CHARLOTTE, NC – With both Charlotte and Rockford missing opportunities during overtime the game went down to the wire. Amazingly the Checkers had given up a three goal lead in regulation mainly because they became too complacent; the Ice Hogs took advantage of the situation.
Photo by Tom Nelson
Charlotte went ahead in under six minutes of the first period when a deflected pass from Drayson Bowman was steered home by Riley Nash. who now leads the Checkers line now that Jon Matsumoto has been traded. Nash added to the score in the second period with a sizzler of a shot from the left circle.
Six minutes later Zac Dalpe scored number three from a pass by Zach Boychuk, a shot that went between goalie Carter Hutton’s legs. Rockford then started their revival when Pater LeBlanc put the Ice Hogs on the board with a minute remaining in the second period.
Le Blanc scored his second goal ten minutes into the third period; followed by Brandon Pirri’s rocket that left John Muse in the Charlotte goal stranded. Muse is now 5-0-0 as a Checker, on the night he stopped 32 shots. With the score at 3-3 at the end of regulation, the tide seemed to have turned in Rockfords favor.
Photo by Tom Nelson
In the shoot-out Muse stopped three of the five Ice Hog shooters while Checkers Bowman, Terry and Pistilli all found the net. Charlotte, who on the power play was three-for-three, extended their run with the man advantage showing that this is an area where they have vastly improved on.
Friday January 27 is the annual Race Night at Time Warner Cable Arena. It is also the Checkers last game before the All Star break. Charlotte is next in action on the road against Oklahoma City Barons on Friday February 3rd.
EddieMitchell@ProHockeyNews.com
Photos by Tom.Nelson@prohockeynews.com
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