Trevor Carrick also scored for the Checkers, who maintain an eight-point lead over Bridgeport in the Atlantic Division playoff race with six games remaining. McKegg’s linemates, Andrew Poturalski (three assists) and Aleksi Saarela (one goal, two assists), also enjoyed productive nights, while Jeremy Smith made 27 saves to pick up the victory.
Syracuse, which has already clinched a playoff spot, saw its seven-game win streak and nine-game point streak (8-0-1) come to an end. This was their first regulation loss since March 9. The Checkers, meanwhile, improved to 9-2-1 since March 3, including points in each of their last four games (3-0-1).
Starting with his assist on Carrick’s first-period opener and continuing with one goal in each of the second and third periods to put the Checkers up 3-0, McKegg extended his point streak to nine games (8g, 6a) – the longest by a Charlotte skater this season. He has recorded at least one point in 12 of 13 games since the Carolina Hurricanes acquired him from Pittsburgh at the NHL’s trade deadline.
After Syracuse spoiled Smith’s shutout bid in the third period on a five-on-three power play, Saarela iced the game with an empty-net tally – the eighth point in his last six games (3g, 5a).
Bridgeport, the team chasing the Checkers in the playoff race, won 5-1 at Hartford on Saturday to prevent Charlotte from further widening its lead. Bridgeport has one game in hand.
