After dropping the front end of their season-opening three-in-three road trip, the Checkers found the win column, riding hot goaltending from Drew MacIntyre and a clutch overtime goal from Ben Holmstrom to a 2-1 overtime victory.
Following a scoreless first period, the second saw the Wolves jump out to a lead, but later in the period Chicago right wing Cody Beach was assessed a major penalty and a game-misconduct for a hit on Justin Shugg, giving Charlotte a five-minute power play. With an extended man-advantage, Alex Aleardi buried a loose puck thrown in front by Keegan Lowe and evened things up. Aleardi, who recorded seven goals in his rookie campaign with Springfield last season, was filling the spot in the lineup left by Zach Boychuk, whose promotion to the Hurricanes was announced shortly after the beginning of this game.
A tight third period saw both squads come away with good chances but no goals, and at the end of regulation the game was still deadlocked at one, leading to the Checkers’ first overtime appearance of the season. In four games that ended in overtime last season, the Checkers were victorious in three, and that hot streak carried over. Just over 90 seconds into the extra frame, Holmstrom corralled a puck put on net from the corner by Rasmus Rissanen and snapped it over Wolves goalie Jordan Binnington’s glove to secure Charlotte the two points.
MacIntyre, another new face to the organization, was a force in the crease for the Checkers, turning away 42 of the 43 shots he faced. MacIntyre’s play in goal was an integral part of the victory, as he kept the Checkers in the game despite the team being outshot 43-16. He was also a piece in a penalty killing unit that shut the Wolves down once again, blanking them on their four opportunities.
The Checkers will now shift their focus and look to get a winning-streak going with Friday’s home-opener against Grand Rapids, who sit at 1-1 after splitting their opening weekend series with Lake Erie.
NOTES
Rookie Phil Di Giuseppe led the team with three shots on goal … The Checkers were 1-for-4 on the power play, capitalizing on a five-minute major assessed to Cody Beach, who was also given a game-misconduct … Both Aleardi and Holmstrom notched their first goals in a Checkers sweater … Rookie Brock McGinn marked his first professional point, an assist on Aleardi’s goal … Holmstrom and Brendan Woods each have points in consecutive games … Forward Zach Boychuk was scratched from the game as he was recalled to the Carolina Hurricanes, while defenseman Austin Levi was a healthy extra … Rookie defenseman Dennis Robertson missed his second straight game due to injury.
