The Checkers and Thunderbirds clashed in a hard-fought battle Friday night in Bojangles’ Coliseum, but it was the home team that came out on top thanks to some late heroics.
With the score deadlocked at one with just over five minutes remaining in regulation and the Checkers on the penalty kill, Colin Markison collected a loose puck at center ice and carried it in on a breakaway. The forward then fired a low shot that found its way into the back of the net and clinched a big divisional win.
The majority of regulation before that winner was a tight, low-scoring affair. After a scoreless first period, Steven Lorentz opened things up with his second goal in as many games, but Springfield would respond less than 30 seconds later to tie things up.
The game had a physical edge throughout, leading to 68 combined penalty minutes, but the Checkers’ penalty kill came through once again and killed off all seven power plays that the Thunderbirds had. Charlotte also stifled Springfield across the board, holding the visitors to just 21 shots, and Alex Nedeljkovic stood tall to earn his first win of the season.
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