Checkers Top Wolf Pack on Teddy Bear Toss Night
December 15, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC - In front of a raucous crowd on Teddy Bear Toss night, the Checkers battled back to take down Hartford and keep their winning streak rolling.
After falling behind less than a minute into play, Martin Necas swooped across the crease and beat the Hartford netminder to tie the score and trigger the Teddy Bear Toss, with the cascading stuffed animals being collected for several local charities.
Hartford responded early in the second but the Checkers' come-from-behind ways emerged once again as Saku Maenalanen punched home a loose puck out front minutes later to draw the score even again. Nicolas Roy capped off the comeback in the final frame, redirecting an Andrew Poturalski feed on the man advantage.
The Wolf Pack would push hard down the stretch but the Checkers would clamp down, led by a strong 27-save performance from Alex Nedeljkovic, who notched his league-leading 14th win of the season.
Quotes
Coach Mike Vellucci on the game's physicality
I love it. I think it was great. It showed that our guys care, that they stick up for each other and they respond the right way. You have to learn to win those hockey games when you're emotional and you're into it. You've got to keep your emotions in check without taking bad penalties but also push back when they're pushing on you.
Vellucci on the game
I didn't love our first period. They took it to us and Ned held us in there and made some big saves. Once we got it going we started playing much better, but we've still got a lot to clean up before we play at 1 o'clock tomorrow. We had way too many turnovers. You've got to be stronger and smarter with the puck.
Nicolas Roy on the game
I think it was a really hard game for both sides. Two really good teams going at it and it was pretty intense. We came out with the win, so it was pretty good.
Alex Nedeljkovic on the physical play
Just keep battling and try to move past it. Whatever happens happens, and then you've got to be ready for the next shot. If you're worried about somebody coming to run you or the physicality going on in front of you, you're doing yourself no favors. Your job is to stop the puck.
Nedeljkovic on winning close games
These tight games are a lot more fun to play in. The ones where you're up by four or five goals, guys are having fun, but this is where you really learn how to win. We did a good job of sticking with it all night. We were down twice, stuck with it, came back, grinded it out. That's a good win.
Nedeljkovic on how his attempt to score his third career goal that narrowly missed in the final seconds felt coming off his stick
It felt great. They all feel great until I see where they're going. Hopefully one of these days I can feel even better about one of them.
Notes
Fans tossed an estimated 2,000 stuffed animals that the Checkers will now donate to local children in need this holiday season ... The Checkers' five-game win streak ties their longest of the season, set twice previously. Their last streak longer than that was a seven-game run to end last season ... Necas is now tied for fourth among AHL rookie scorers with 21 points in 24 games ... Maenalanen's goal was his first since Nov. 10, a span of 13 games ... The Checkers improved to 3-1-0 against Hartford this season, with all four games taking place in December. They will still play four more times ... Defenseman Josiah Didier missed the game due to injury ... Forward Zack Stortini and defenseman Josh Wesley were healthy extras.
Up Next
The Checkers continue their home stand tomorrow at 1 p.m. as they host the Utica Comets for the first time this season.
American Hockey League Stories from December 15, 2018
- Wolves Win Fourth in a Row - Chicago Wolves
- Depleted Griffins Fight Back for Shootout Win over Division Leaders - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Condors, Wells Shutout Stockton, 1-0 - Bakersfield Condors
- Haggerty Hat Trick Leads Penguins over Phantoms - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Penguins Top Phantoms in Feisty Rivalry Affair - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Amerks Sweep Monsters with 2-1 Win in Overtime - Rochester Americans
- Monsters Fall to Amerks in Overtime, 2-1 - Cleveland Monsters
- Mascherin Nets Overtime Goal for 3-2 Win in Rockford - Texas Stars
- Dal Colle scores two more and Bridgeport ties a franchise record by extending its points streak at home to 13 games - Bridgeport Islanders
- Senators Conclude Week with Loss in Binghamton - Belleville Senators
- McIntyre Breaks P-Bruin Wins Record in 6-2 Victory - Providence Bruins
- Admirals Earn Point in Shoot-Out Loss - Milwaukee Admirals
- Devils Rebound with 3-1 Win over Senators - Binghamton Devils
- Bruins Score Five Unanswered, Drop Bears 6-2 - Hershey Bears
- Charlotte Edges Wolf Pack Again - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Sound Tigers Prove to be Too Much for T-Birds - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Checkers Top Wolf Pack on Teddy Bear Toss Night - Charlotte Checkers
- Dominant Performance Lifts Rocket 4-0 over Crunch - Laval Rocket
- Stage Set for Game Two in Winnipeg - Toronto Marlies
- Crunch Blanked by Rocket, 4-0 - Syracuse Crunch
- Rangers Recall Boo Nieves from Hartford - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Tucson, Arizona: A Player's Paradise - Tucson Roadrunners
- Promotional Advisory: Another Winning Wednesday Coming up against Cleveland - Grand Rapids Griffins
- American Hockey League Announces Suspension - AHL
- Texas Stars Recall Left Wing Spencer Naas from Idaho - Texas Stars
- T-Birds Visit Sound Tigers for Sixth Meeting of Season - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Sabres Recall Matt Hunwick - Rochester Americans
- Game #25 Preview: Tucson at Chicago - Tucson Roadrunners
- Heat Host Bakersfield and Santa Tonight at 6 PM - Stockton Heat
- Game Day Build-Up: Senators at Devils, December 15 - Belleville Senators
- Capitals Recall Tyler Lewington from Hershey - Hershey Bears
- Game Preview: Bears at Bruins, 7:05 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Panthers Recall Forwards Jayce Hawryluk, Henrik Borgstrom from T-Birds - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Bakersfield Edges Gulls in Shootout - San Diego Gulls
- Condors Prevail 4-3 in a Shootout over San Diego - Bakersfield Condors
- Soshnikov, Kyrou Headline Shootout Win over Wild - San Antonio Rampage
- Moose Outplayed by Sharp Marlies - Manitoba Moose
- Crunch Take First of Back-To-Back 3-2 in Shootout - Laval Rocket
- Iowa Falls in the Shootout to San Antonio by a Score of 4-3 - Iowa Wild
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
