MacKenzie Entwistle scored the game’s first goal 18:15 into the first period, giving the Checkers a 1-0 lead. Riese Gaber and Hunter St. Martin were given the assists on Entwistle’s third tally of the season.
Nate Smith added to Charlotte’s lead, notching his sixth goal of the year at 5:02 of the second period. Mike Benning had the lone assist, keeping the puck in at the right point before sending Smith in alone behind the Rochester defense.
Jake Leschyshyn solved Cooper Black 19:48 into the middle stanza, splitting the Checkers’ lead in half before the second intermission.
The Americans tied the game 2:37 in the third period as Matteo Costantini was in alone, beating Black through the left arm. Rochester’s two goals, separated by the second intermission, were scored within three minutes of each other.
Following a goalless five-minute overtime, the game advanced to a shootout. Studnicka buried his attempt in the bottom of the second round while Black denied all three Rochester attempts. Black logged his 19th victory of the season in a 30-save effort; he is tied for third in the American Hockey League in wins.
The Checkers were 3-for-3 on the penalty kill and 0-for-2 on the power play. Charlotte will continue their road trip in Syracuse, battling the Crunch in a two-game series that begins on Friday.
