Wrapping up a busy weekend with their third game in less than 48 hours, the Checkers used a big burst in the middle frame to tame the Hartford Wolf Pack 4-3.
After breaking the scoring open late in the first, the Wolf Pack notched another less than a minute into the middle frame to put Charlotte in a 2-0 hole. Warren Foegele put the visitors on the board with a breakaway tally shortly after, and that would spark a red-hot period for the Checkers. Brendan Kichton evened the score with a bomb from the point on the man-advantage, followed just 16 seconds later by Clark Bishop banging home a rebound out front to give Charlotte its first lead.
The Checkers’ siege continued less than two minutes after that when Greg McKegg swooped around the back of the Hartford net to deliver a pass to Valentin Zykov, who buried it for his AHL-leading 28th goal of the season and Charlotte’s fourth of the frame.
The Wolf Pack pushed back in the third, with Boo Nieves capitalizing on a two-man advantage to pull his club within one, but that would be all the Wolf Pack could muster. Alex Nedeljkovic, who finished the night with 32 saves, helped the Checkers weather Hartford’s rally attempt and picked up his 25th win of the season.
NOTES
The Checkers finished their fourth and final three-in-three of the season with a 2-1-0 record … The Checkers have won consecutive road games for the first time since Dec. 8 and 9 … Today was the 10th time this season the Checkers have scored at least four goals in a single period and the first since Feb. 13 … With his third goal in two games, Valentin Zykov continues to hold the AHL lead for goals … Warren Foegele extended his goals lead among AHL rookies and moved into a tie for third overall … Alex Nedeljkovic is the first AHL goalie to reach 25 wins this season … Greg McKegg has recorded an assist in all three games he’s played for the Checkers … Sergey Tolchinsky extended his point streak to three games … Marcus Kruger, Jake Chelios and Andrew Miller all missed the game due to injury … Tyler Ganly, Mike Ferrantino and Zack Stortini served as healthy extras
UP NEXT
The Checkers will return to Charlotte to kick off a big home stand starting Friday against this same Hartford team.
