The Checkers’ best first period of the season got a little better thanks to some help from the Carolina Hurricanes.
Midway through their four-goal onslaught in the first 20 minutes of their game against Rockford on Saturday, the Checkers received forward Brendan Woods on reassignment from their parent club. Woods, one of Charlotte’s most consistent performers up front this season, went scoreless with five penalty minutes earned in a fight against Chris Neil in his only three NHL games of the season.
The return of Woods, which could happen as soon as Sunday’s 1 p.m. rematch with the IceHogs at Bojangles’ Coliseum, is yet another boost to a Checkers team that has added several new weapons up front in recent weeks. Since Woods’ recall last weekend, Charlotte added Andrew Miller, Dane Fox and Andrew Poturalski, all of whom have found the score sheet at least once.
With Brock McGinn missing Saturday’s game due to injury, the Checkers would now have two healthy extras at the position if he is unable to return Sunday.
