The Checkers’ second-round series moved to Charlotte for Game 3, but the home team couldn’t replicate their success and dropped the contest 3-2.
The Checkers still hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five division semifinal, which continues with Game 4 on Monday.
A far cry from Game 2’s fireworks, Saturday’s tilt was a tightly contested, low-scoring affair. After a scoreless opening frame, the Checkers opened the scoring as Aleksi Heponiemi threw a puck on net that threaded through the Islanders netminder and into the back of the net.
That lead was short-lived for Charlotte, however, as Chris Terry converted a breakaway less than two minutes later to draw the game even. The two sides exchanged chances throughout the final frame, but it was the Islanders who eventually snagged the equalizer as Simon Holmstrom finished off an odd-man rush inside the final five minutes of play.
Holmstrom then launched one into the empty net as the Checkers pushed for the tying tally to extend the visitors’ lead with less than one minute to go. Charlotte had one last push, though, as Connor Carrick knocked one in with 38 seconds remaining, but the home side couldn’t quite muster another as the series was extended.
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