Julien Gauthier and Morgan Geekie scored power-play goals in the opening frame and the Checkers never looked back as they handed Rochester its first regulation loss since Oct. 30, ending the team’s 12-game point streak (10-0-2). Anton Forsberg made 32 saves to defeat the Americans, who had gone two full games without allowing a goal prior to the Checkers’ first-period onslaught tonight.
Having won two of three on their road trip, the Checkers now head home to prepare for a six-game home stand that starts Friday and heads right into the holiday break.
Charlotte drew first blood in this game when Gauthier streaked down the right wing, beat a defender and roofed a shot under the crossbar just 7:27 into the contest. Geekie would add to that when Forsberg sent a long pass to the opposite blue line, which Roland McKeown quickly collected and sent forward to Geekie for a cool forehand-to-backhand finish on the breakaway.
After Jean-Sebastien Dea got one back for the visitors near the end of the second to make things interesting, the Checkers held on until Max McCormick deposited an empty-net goal to seal the victory for Charlotte.
