Checkers Stomp San Jose to Extend Streak
December 28, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
SAN JOSE, CA - A week-long holiday break didn't slow the Checkers' momentum, as they exploded in the third period to roll over the San Jose Barracuda 4-1.
For the first 40 minutes of play, the Checkers couldn't break through against the stingy Barracuda, with netminder Aaron Dell rising to the occasion and turning aside all 23 shots they fired at him. On the other end of the ice, the home club only recorded 10 shots through two periods, but managed to find twine on one of them and carried a 1-0 advantage into the final frame of regulation.
It didn't take long for the Checkers' offense, which had continually picked up steam in the back half of the second period, to come alive in the third, however. Justin Shugg sniped a puck into the top corner on a power play to tie the game less than four minutes into the period, then the floodgates opened for Charlotte.
David Wohlberg pounced on a shorthanded rebound created by Patrick Brown a few minutes later to put the visitors on top, then recent PTO-signee Ethan Werek added another shortly after to push the Checkers in front 3-1 before the third period even reached its midway point. San Jose could not find a way to get behind the Charlotte defense to mount a comeback, and Zach Boychuk found an empty net for the final dagger. The 4-1 victory extended the team's point streak to seven games and their winning streak to four, both season-highs.
With Drew MacIntyre away at the Spengler Cup, Daniel Altshuller was tapped to make his fourth consecutive start between the pipes for Charlotte and improved to 4-0-0 in his AHL career. Aside from the one blemish, Altshuller turned in a stellar performance, coming up with big stops when called upon and weathering five of the six man advantages San Jose was awarded.
While Derek Ryan was held off the score sheet for the first time in six games, the Checkers found offense in other places. Werek, who has spent his season in the ECHL with Florida prior to signing a PTO two days ago, was immediately thrust onto the second line for Charlotte and created several offensive chances for the team, including his goal. The duo of Wohlberg and Brown created havoc on the penalty kill all night, with each player picking up their team-leading second shorthanded point on the season.
The four-goal outburst in the third marked the sixth time this season that the Checkers have scored more than three times in a third period this season, and the third time they've scored at least three goals in any period in their last six contests.
The Checkers will take their seven-game point streak, the longest active in the AHL, into a rematch with San Jose on Wednesday afternoon as they continue on their six-game California road trip.
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