Third period disaster for Checkers

CHARLOTTE, NC – Even though the Checkers fought hard for the win, they were just not good enough. After a thrilling win Sunday night the team played as well on Monday against the Lake Erie Monsters, but came up short.
 
The first period was all Charlotte with Jerome Samson putting the hosts ahead four minutes before the end of the period. Jon Matsumo passed to Chris Durno who in turn found Samson across the ice. Samson, with 10 goals, is now tied with Matsumo for most goals so far this season.
 
For most of the game it looked like Justin Peters in the Checkers goal was going to have a shut out, in the third period that dream was shattered. Ryan Stoa in less than two minutes of the third period put the Monsters on the board.
 
Nicolas Blanchard was sent to the penalty box for tripping with less than three minutes to go in the game. This gave Lake Erie a great opportunity to go ahead which they did through Greg Maudling, who hit a terrific shot past Peters.
 
With half a minute left in the game Tyson Barrie added an empty-net goal for the Monsters, to seal the win and give Lake Erie a 3-1 victory.
 
Although it was the third game in three days Charlotte did not seem tired. Both teams exchanged goal opportunities through each of the periods, anumber of chances went missing for both sides. The feeling in the Charlotte locker room after the game was more of disappointment because of the loss, than of the team’s performance. The general thought of the Checkers players was that they had played a good solid game, but on the night they needed something extra.
 
Charlotte now go back on the road playing Texas Stars on Friday December 9 and San Antonio on Saturday December 6. They then return to Time Warner Cable Arena for a four game home stand.
 
EddieMitchell@ProHockeyNews.com