Checkers Defeat Ontario to Extend Record Point Streak
January 3, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
Shugg records Gordie Howe Hat Trick in 4-2 victory
Against the last team to defeat them in regulation, the Checkers were able to keep their franchise-record point streak chugging along by way of a 4-2 victory in Ontario on Saturday.
Justin Shugg recorded a Gordie Howe Hat Trick (one goal, one assist and one fight) and Rasmus Tirronen made 35 saves in his first AHL game in nearly one full month as Charlotte made it nine consecutive games with at least one point earned in the standings (7-0-2). The streak, which is the longest of its kind in the AHL currently, began after these teams last met at Bojangles' Coliseum on Dec. 6.
Ryan Murphy and Sergey Tolchinsky scored in the first period to build a 2-0 lead and T.J. Hensick added an empty-net tally for Charlotte, which concludes its four-game season series against the Western Conference's top team in a Sunday evening rematch.
Shugg, who finished as the team's top scorer last season, led the way by sealing the unique feat with a breakaway goal in the second period that held up as the game winner. He had earlier assisted on Murphy's power-play blast to open the scoring the first period, with the less-conventional third of the accomplishment being his fight against Zach Leslie. The infraction marked the first career AHL fight for Shugg, whose five penalty minutes earned for the bout marked a single-game career high.
Earlier in the game, Murphy and Tolchinsky, the latter of whom finished a goalmouth scramble to find the back of the net for the second consecutive contest, had answered back after the Charlotte penalty kill allowed the team to emerge unscathed from three minor penalties in the first 12 minutes of the first period.
Tirronen, who was in goal for the Checkers' most recent loss against Ontario, turned in a career high for saves in a single game as Charlotte was out-shot by a 37-14 margin. His start ended a run of five consecutive starts for Daniel Altshuller.
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