The Checkers opened up the 2022-23 season in dramatic fashion, beating the Hartford Wolf Pack 4-3 in overtime.
Deadlocked after 60 minutes of play, it didn’t take Charlotte much longer to put an end to things. Just 35 seconds into the extra frame Anton Levtchi – playing his first North American pro game – picked up a slick feed from Riley Nash at the left circle and dangled his way across the mouth of the crease, lighting the lamp for the second time tonight and clinching two points for the home side.
The Checkers and Wolf Pack traded goals for much of regulation, with Aleksi Heponiemi netting the season’s first tally less than five minutes in and Levtchi converting on the man advantage early in the second. Former Checkers Julien Gauthier broke the pattern midway through the third and gave Hartford its first lead of the contest, but new addition Chris Tierney came through in the clutch. With under eight minutes to play, the veteran forward knocked home the tying goal and set the game on course for overtime.
Making his first start in a Charlotte sweater, J-F Berube came through when called upon with 19 saves in a winning effort, while the rest of the Checkers defense suffocated the Hartford attack – allowing just a single shot in the third frame.
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