Hershey Breaks Third-Period Deadlock to Beat Checkers 4-2

The third period was the difference once again in Charlotte’s rematch with Hershey, with the Checkers dropping a 4-2 contest Saturday night in front of a packed house.

The tightly contested game was tilted in favor of the home team as the game passed its midway point, as Hershey’s opening tally was answered quickly by a Patrick Giles redirect and Justin Sourdif gave Charlotte the lead with a slick tap in off a feed from Will Lockwood halfway through the second period.

Momentum swung back the Bears’ way late in the middle frame, though, as the visitors notched their second power-play goal of the night to even the score heading into the second intermission.

Hershey was the only side to break through in the final frame, snatching its first lead of the night with an early strike. The Checkers couldn’t put together a rally down the stretch, and Mike Vecchione hit the empty net in the waning moments of regulation to complete his hat trick and seal Charlotte’s 4-2 defeat.

QUOTES

Coach Geordie Kinnear on the game
I thought it was a good hockey game and we ended up on the short end of it. It was two teams that were very competitive away from the puck and with the puck. I thought it was a good hockey game that we ended up losing. If you take a lesson, you’ve got to stay out of the box. Two power-play goals (against). Special teams got us a point last night, obviously the PK didn’t get the job done tonight, but you’ve got to give them credit. Overall it was a good hockey game, and I thought from yesterday to today, we took a step.

Kinnear on his team’s power-play opportunity late in the game
They did a great job on it. You hit two posts at the end that could have tied the hockey game. Overall it was a good hockey game and I liked the way we played and liked the way we competed. It was much better today than it was yesterday.

Kinnear on being able to get right back at it with Tuesday’s game against Milwaukee
I think we’re a better team when we’re in a bit of a rhythm. I didn’t love the game from a systems standpoint and a structure standpoint yesterday, so being a young group, you can practice all you want but you’ve got to get reps and you’ve got to do it in game. Our young guys need those reps.

NOTES

The Checkers are now 3-1-2 against Hershey this season. In the season series, the home team is a combined 1-4-1 … The Checkers out-shot Hershey 29-18, including an 11-6 mark in the third period … Charlotte’s league-leading power play was 0-for-6 on the night, while Hershey was 2-for-6 … Sourdif has goals in consecutive games … Nicholas Zabaneh recorded his first point as a Checker with an assist on Giles’ goal … Lockwood has points in three straight games since returning from a nearly two-month injury absence (2g, 1a) … Checkers scratches included forwards Zac Dalpe, Josh Davies, Mackenzie Entwistle, Riese Gaber, Ryan McAllister, Aidan McDonough and Sandis Vilmanis, defensemen Evan Nause and Mitch Vande Sompel, and goaltender Cooper Black.