The visitors started the scoring thanks to an impressive breakaway effort from Nick Schilkey midway through the first, then used tallies from Dan Renouf and Aleksi Saarela to build a 3-1 advantage seven minutes into the middle frame. Thomas Hickey, on a conditioning stint from the NHL, would answer back 90 seconds after Saarela’s strike with a goal that turned the tide for the home team.
With momentum on their side, the Sound Tigers would tack on two more goals before the next buzzer to give them their first lead of the night heading into the second intermission. The Checkers would push back to start the third, but a defensive breakdown led to a wide-open one-timer for Josh Ho-Sang, who would take over the frame from there. Charlotte went the aggressive route and pulled netminder Callum Booth for an extra attacker with over six minutes to play and would create several high-end chances, but Ho-Sang would eventually make them pay. Penalty trouble further hindered the Checkers’ last-ditch comeback attempt late, and Ho-Sang would pot one more on the man advantage to pick up a natural hat trick with Bridgeport sixth unanswered tally, and the home squad rolled away with a lopsided victory.
Ho-Sang would finish the night with a staggering five points, while Hickey and Andrew Ladd – also on a conditioning stint from the Islanders – each notched three points to drive the offense. Christopher Gibson made 25 stops to pick up his fifth straight win, while Callum Booth had 26 saves in the losing effort, including helping to kill five of Bridgeport’s six power plays. On the flip side the Checkers converted on their one man advantage for the night.
