CHARLOTTE, NC – The Checkers made a run at ending their downward spiral Saturday night, but a rough second period proved to be too much as they found themselves on the losing end of a 5-4 final.
The San Diego Gulls quickly put themselves on top with a strike less than 90 seconds into the game, but the Checkers squared things up shortly after, sending things into the first intermission tied at one. Things came undone for the home team in the middle frame, however, with the Gulls shelling them for four goals on nine shots, including two on the power play and one shorthanded. Ryan Murphy was able to notch one for 
Charlotte, but they entered the final period with an uphill 5-3 deficit in front of them.
But the Checkers of old made an appearance coming out of the gates in the third. Murphy netted his second of the night, followed by Kyle Hagel cashing in on a rebound in front to pull Charlotte within one with over 13 minutes to play in regulation.
The Checkers were unable to keep that momentum rolling, creating chances but only recording six shots in the final frame. A late bench minor for too many men on the ice then derailed any hopes they had for a comeback, and the Checkers limped to their franchise-worst ninth consecutive winless game.
That second period that ended up sinking the Checkers stemmed from a pair of penalties taken, both away from the puck. The Gulls high-powered power-play unit wasted no time jumping on those opportunities.
“Undisciplined play,” said head coach Mark Morris of his team’s downfall in the second. “Two slashes and a hook. What’s that going to do? Not going to help you. We’re so thin right now as a group, we can’t afford to be killing penalties and muster a huge attack. Our energy stores are low right now.”
“If you look at tonight’s game, there were a lot of tough mistakes and some penalties that could have gone either way,” said Zach Boychuk. “We’ve got to be better and we’ve got to find ways to win.”
But the Checkers were able to bounce back from that lowly second and mounted their best push of the last few games to start the third, showing flashes of the high-octane comebacks they made famous earlier this season.
“I liked our third,” said Morris. “I challenged them in the third to play bigger and to be more responsible and we did. We had some early success there in the third.”
Much of that success came from the Checkers’ back end, with three goals coming via rebounds in front and two coming off the stick of Murphy.
“It’s huge,” said Murphy of the production on the blue line. “The defense are chipping in right now with guys like Chelios and Carrick, but at the same time we’ve got a lot of skilled forwards who can put the puck in the net. That’s the best thing from the first line to the fourth line.”
Despite this tough stretch, the locker room is trying to take positives away from each game.
“It’s been kind of frustrating,” said Boychuk. “We’ve been playing some good hockey and we just haven’t been able to get rewarded. I think we’re just trying to stay positive.”
“I’ve been on teams before where we go on losing streaks and everyone kind of separates and everyone kind of gets mad at each other, but to be honest this team is a very tight group,” said Murphy. “If one person is down the others are picking him up, and that’s probably my favorite part about this team right now. Everyone stays up and everyone helps each other.”
This long home stand now comes to a close with the Checkers in a free fall down the Central Division. They will now hit the road looking for some kind of answers to their woes.
“It’ll be good for the guys to get back on the road,” said Boychuk. “We’ve had a really busy schedule with the All-Star break and then games every other night it seems. Going on the road, hopefully we can find our game and start playing better.”
Hopefully when the Checkers return to their home ice, it’ll be on a better kind of streak.
“The crowd was great tonight last night and the fans have been great, and we take it to heart when we don’t perform for them,” said Murphy. “Although we’re excited to get a fresh road trip going and string together some wins, we’re also anxious to get back in front of this crowd and do what we can do in front of them.”
With Checkers game report
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