Magnus Paajarvi started the scoring for the Wolves, deflecting in a wrist shot from the point early in regulation. Chicago doubled their lead with a quick strike in the second before Paajarvi padded the advantage with his second of the night in the waning moments of the middle frame. Those three goals would prove to be enough as the Checkers failed to produce anything offensively.
After emerging as a high-scoring club thus far this season, the Checkers could not find any sort of spark offensively, being blanked for the first time this season. Charlotte was only able to register 21 shots on goal, a season-low, and never really seemed to threaten Pheonix Copley, who notched his first shutout of the season.
Charlotte’s power play unit had been firing on all cylinders this season, recording a power-play goal in all six games entering tonight, but was smothered by the Wolves. The Checkers failed to find the back of the net on any of their four man-advantage opportunities, including a crucial 5-on-3 chance early on in the third.
The Checkers’ current pattern of playing every other night continues next week as they wrap up their month-long road trip. They will have tomorrow to regroup before taking on the Rockford IceHogs on Tuesday.
