Checkers Pick up a Point in Shootout Loss to Griffins
Published on April 12, 2017 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC - In a tight defensive battle, the Checkers were able to earn a point in the standings, but dropped the contest to Grand Rapids 2-1 in a shootout.
Andrew Poturalski was the only Checker to produce any offense in regulation, picking up his 51st point of the year, while Tom McCollum stood tall for the remainder of the contest. Playing as a visitor at Van Andel Arena for the first time in his career, the netminder stopped 42 of 43 shots over 65 minutes of play.
Charlotte got on the board first courtesy of the team's leading scorer, Poturalski, who showed off his patience by carrying the puck all the way around the back of the net before curling around in front and wiring one in. That would stand as the only goal in the opening frame, but the Griffins answered back in the second, with Matthew Ford capitalizing on a strange bounce off the end boards to tie the game.
From that point on, despite strong pushes from both sides, the goalies took center stage, turning aside everything they saw in the third period to force the game to overtime. The Checkers dominated possession in the extra frame but couldn't come through with the winner and the game would proceed to a shootout.
Each of the first two shooters from both sides lit the lamp, then each goalie turned aside their third attempts to push the shootout to sudden death. After Phil Di Giuseppe was denied on a quick backhand move, Filip Hronek dangled his way around McCollum and found the back of the net, securing the win for the home squad.
Goal Summary PERIOD
TIME
TEAM
GOAL
ASSIST
ASSIST
SCORE
1 2
7:40 4:01
CHA GR
Poturalski (18) Ford (13)
Di Giuseppe Callahan
Chelios Russo
- - 1-0 CHA 1-1
Notes With one point tonight, the Checkers are now tied at 84 with the Cleveland Monsters for the fourth and final Central Division playoff spot. Both teams have two games remaining on their schedule ... Tonight was the first shootout loss by the Checkers this season ... The Checkers have now earned a point in eight of their last nine road games ... Charlotte has earned at least a point in five of its last six visits to Van Andel Arena, dating back to last season ... The Checkers went scoreless on four man advantages tonight, snapping a three-game streak, their longest this season ... Aleksi Saarela left the game in the second period and did not return ... Lucas Wallmark, Jake Bean, Danny Kristo, Erik Karlsson, Michael Leighton and Kyle Hagel missed the game due to injury ... Brendan Woods, Sergey Tolchinsky and Tyler Ganly served as healthy extras
Up Next The Checkers return to Grand Rapids for the final time Friday night at 7 p.m.
American Hockey League Stories from April 12, 2017
- Admirals Take out Hogs - Milwaukee Admirals
- Penguins Fall in Shootout to Phantoms, 2-1 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Devils Defeat Wolf Pack, Clinch Playoff Spot - Albany Devils
- Comets Allow Five Third Period Goals in Loss - Utica Comets
- Pack Can't Sustain Good Start In Loss At Albany - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Checkers Pick up a Point in Shootout Loss to Griffins - Charlotte Checkers
- Crunch Topple Comets, 7-2 - Syracuse Crunch
- Phantoms Clinch Berth in 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- P-Bruins Fall 4-3 in Last Trip to Springfield - Providence Bruins
- Murray Scores First AHL Goal in 3-2 Shootout Win - Binghamton Senators
- Rampage Sign Defenseman Josh Anderson to Amateur Tryout Contract - San Antonio Rampage
- IceCaps Release Billingsley from PTO - St. John's IceCaps
- Coyotes Sign Looke to Entry-Level Contract - Tucson Roadrunners
- Michalek to Minnesota - Iowa Wild
- Monsters Sign Defenseman Sam Ruopp to Amateur Tryout Contract - Cleveland Monsters
- San Jose's Roy Sommer Voted Winner of AHL's Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award - AHL
- Syracuse Crunch Weekly - April 12, 2017 - Vol. 23, No. 26 - Syracuse Crunch
- Fucale Reassigned to Brampton - St. John's IceCaps
- Transaction: Steven Swavely Recalled by Phantoms - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Comets Recall Forward Marco Roy - Utica Comets
- Vannelli Rejoins Wolves - Chicago Wolves
- Sound Tigers Report: Week 26 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Griffins Sign Luke Esposito from Harvard - Grand Rapids Griffins
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