GAME RECAP: Saarela Strikes Twice in Defeat of Griffins
March 31, 2017 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - After putting themselves back into a playoff spot last night in Cleveland, the Checkers kept things rolling against Grand Rapids, besting the Griffins by a 3-1 score.
Aleksi Saarela continued his seamless transition to North America, showing off his lethal shot for what would hold as the game winner early in the third and then quickly adding a slick breakaway move for his second goal of the night and his fifth point in three games with Charlotte. On the playmaking side of things was Andrew Miller, who stayed hot by picking up the primary assist on all three of the Checkers' tallies on the night.
While the Checkers' offense was buzzing all night, thanks to the group of Saarela, Miller, Valentin Zykov, Trevor Carrick and Jake Chelios, who were all on the ice for each Charlotte goal, their netminder turned in a gem of a game as well. Daniel Altshuller, making his first start in nearly a month, stopped 30 of the 31 shots he saw to earn his second consecutive victory at Van Andel Arena and give the Checkers at least one point in the standings in each of their last seven road contests.
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