Playing their fourth game in six games, the road weary Checkers found themselves in a two-goal hole early in the middle frame before Julien Gauthier banked a quick wrister off the body of Nicolas Roy in front to cut that lead in half minutes later. The Phantoms responded the very next shift, however, then tacked on another right out of the gates in the third to again establish a two-goal advantage. That fourth tally from Lehigh Valley would spell the end for Alex Nedeljkovic, who has been between the pipes for Charlotte during each game of the current road trip, and paved the way for recently recalled rookie Callum Booth to make his AHL debut in relief.
Time looked to be running out for the Checkers but a late power play gave them the chance to pull Booth for a two-man advantage and they capitalized as Aleksi Saarela ripped a shot from the point off the post and in. With some newfound life, the Checkers again pulled their netminder and again were able to cash in, this time with Andrew Miller cutting through the defense and following his own chance with a slick wrap around to pull Charlotte within one in the final minute of play.
Despite the wave of momentum behind them the Checkers couldn’t finish the improbable rally, however, as the clock hit zero and the Phantoms picked up the narrow victory.
