The Checkers came out firing on all cylinders, with Zac Dalpe ripping his 29th goal of the season less than two minutes into regulation and German Rubtsov ripping a quick one-timer to make it 2-0 heading into the first intermission.
The Penguins got on the board with a shorthanded tally midway through the second that would shift the momentum in the home team’s favor for the remainder of the middle frame, but the Checkers clung to their one-goal advantage.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton continued to mount pressure in the third, but the Checkers wouldn’t budge - thanks in large part to a stellar 27-save performance between the pipes from Joey Daccord. A clutch goal off the stick of Connor Bunnaman gave Charlotte some breathing room, and the visitors never looked back from there. An empty-net dagger from Alexander True sealed the deal and the Checkers emerged with a strong 4-1 victory.
Bunnaman gets his first as a Checker and it couldn’t have come at a better time! pic.twitter.com/HsDmPbklGU
— x - Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) April 14, 2022