Utica controlled the initial stages of the contest - netting a power-play goal 95 seconds in, then doubling their lead less than two minutes after that - and were looking to keep rolling as they headed back on another power play just past the midway point of the frame. That was where Charlotte turned the tide, however, as Brett Chorske fed Will Lockwood on a shorthanded two-on-one to put the home team on the board. Riding that wave of momentum, Eamon Powell threaded a shot through traffic to tie the game before the first buzzer and Charlotte was off to the races.
The Checkers would tally the game’s next three goals - the latter two of which came on man advantages - to put a stranglehold on the scoreboard. Utica punched back with a goal in the final minute of the second, but the Checkers didn’t give the visitors any glimpse of a comeback in the third. While holding the Comets to just four shots in the frame, the Checkers got one last insurance marker from Riley Bezeau to double up Utica and send a raucous crowd home happy.
QUOTES
Coach Geordie Kinnear on the start of the gameIt was a tough start - 2-0 quick, the guy who scored the two big goals for them yesterday scored right away on the power play and then they get one a couple of shifts later. But I’m proud of the group. I was proud of the group for being able to work back into it and take the lead in the second period.
Kinnear on his young lineup
We switched the lineup quite a bit. Schwindty hasn’t been here all year and then I threw him into a pretty big game. Credit to the whole group - it’s the environment where guys can come in and have a positive impact. We talk about when you’re going into a pool, you don’t want to dip your toe into the water, you want to be able to jump in. Those guys are jumping in and that’s what we expect.
Kinnear on looking forward
I told the group, it doesn’t matter who we’re playing right now, we want to play our game and continue to get better and play playoff-type hockey. It’s positive but we need to get healthy and get some guys back to continue to move forward.
Forward John Leonard on tonight’s game
Obviously we let the foot off the gas a little and they came out strong and scored two quick. Then we were able to get it square before the period ended and that was huge.
Leonard on the upcoming schedule
We have three left on the road and they’re still crucial games, there are crucial points on the line and we want that first-round bye - that’s really important to us. Three games left to get that spot.
