LEHIGH VALLEY, PA – After dropping their first contest in over a month in Game 1, the Checkers came back with a vengeance in Game 2, throttling the Phantoms 6-0 behind a 26-save shutout from Alex Nedeljkovic.
Both teams spent a considerable amount of time in the box, totaling 78 penalty minutes between them, but it was the Checkers who took advantage. Starting with Janne Kuokkanen’s opening tally six minutes in, the Checkers rocked the Phantoms for four power-play goals on the night while stifling the home squad on all six of their man advantages.
Following up his 30-save performance from Game 1, Nedeljkovic stood tall in the Charlotte crease and frustrated an offense that finished the regular season ranked second in the AHL, sending away all 26 shots he faced.
Kuokkanen ended up leading the way with a pair of tallies on the night, while three different Checkers – Trevor Carrick, Andrew Miller and Andrew Poturalski – all corralled a pair of helpers each.
By pulling off a split in Lehigh Valley, the Checkers have now snatched home-ice advantage back from the Phantoms, as the next three contests will all take place in Charlotte over the course of next week.
With Checkers match report
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