Lehigh Valley Defeats Checkers 3-2
December 2, 2022 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
The Checkers found themselves locked in a tight battle with Lehigh Valley on Friday, but things didn't fall their way in the end as a late tally lifted the Phantoms to a 3-2 win.
Charlotte fired a ton of rubber at the Lehigh Valley netminder - including outshooting its opponent 23-8 through the first two periods of play - but struggled to find the back of the net. Riley Nash eventually erased Lehigh Valley's early lead with a shorthanded tally, and the two sides came to a stalemate for an extended stretch from there.
Just past the halfway point of the third Adam Brooks pushed the Phantoms back ahead with a power-play conversion, but Logan Hutsko responded one minute later with a quick one-timer to pull things even once more.
It was the Phantoms who notched the next strike in the back-and-forth affair though, as Jordy Bellerive threw a puck on net from a low angle that snuck across the line. The Checkers mounted one last push across the waning minutes of play, but they couldn't find another equalizer and the clock ran out on their comeback attempt.
QUOTES
Coach Geordie Kinnear on the game
I didn't love the third period. I thought we lost a little bit of jump. I thought we stopped skating a little bit, especially in a 2-2 hockey game you've got to make sure you play the right way to win the hockey game and we didn't.
Kinnear on not converting enough scoring chances
Compete to score. Be hungry, determined. We had our chances and we've talked about getting better execution. That still has to continue obviously but there's a lot to like, especially in the first two periods. We have to learn to play in those one-goal games in the third period and find ways to score big goals. Credit to them. I thought they ate a lot of our shots. It is what it is. Move on, learn from it.
Kinnear on making adjustments for tomorrow's rematch
We're not worried about the other team. We're still looking for our identity and there's still many levels of our game we have to get to. There's many levels individually. Coaches have to get to another level. It's part of the process. Respect it.
NOTES
Connor Bunnaman left the game due to injury in the third period and did not return. Kinnear did not have an update on his condition immediately following the game ... Nash's goal was his 300th professional point and the Checkers' second shorthanded goal this season ... Chris Tierney assisted on both Checkers goals ... The Checkers had a 20-game point streak at home from Feb. 11 of last season until Nov. 4 of this season (17-0-3). Since that time, they are 2-3-1 at Bojangles Coliseum ... Checkers scratches included forwards Ethan Keppen, defensemen Dennis Cesana, Johnny Ludvig, Calle Sjalin and Zach Uens, and goaltender J-F Berube.
American Hockey League Stories from December 2, 2022
- IceHogs Roll Past Thunderbirds in First Ever Meeting - Rockford IceHogs
- Lukosevicius Leads Belleville Sens To 6-4 Win Over Syracuse - Belleville Senators
- Lukosevicius Leads Belleville Sens To 6-4 Win Over Syracuse - Belleville Senators
- Bellerive Late Goal at Charlotte Propels Phantoms - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Texas' Third-Period Barrage Downs Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Comets' Comeback Falls Short, Lose to Marlies 4-3 - Utica Comets
- Stars Stymie Griffins in Grand Rapids - Texas Stars
- T-Birds Bested by IceHogs, 4-2 - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Lehigh Valley Defeats Checkers 3-2 - Charlotte Checkers
- Crunch Defeated by Senators, 6-4 - Syracuse Crunch
- Abbotsford Canucks Sign Jake Kupsky to PTO - Abbotsford Canucks
- Abbotsford Canucks vs Laval Rocket Series Preview - Abbotsford Canucks
- Barracuda Sign Defenseman Will Riedell to PTO - San Jose Barracuda
- Colorado Eagles Complete Multiple Transactions - Colorado Eagles
- Kieffer Bellows Joins Phantoms - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Minnesota Wild Recalls Forward Joseph Cramarossa from Iowa - Iowa Wild
- The Magic of Lucky Launch: Behind the Scenes with Toys for Tots - Henderson Silver Knights
- Hershey Bears Hockey Club Hall of Fame Classes of 2021 and 2022 Announced - Hershey Bears
- San Diego Gulls Release Andrew Nielsen from Professional Tryout - San Diego Gulls
- Get $5 Knit Caps at the Condors Game Saturday - Bakersfield Condors
- Blues Assign F Jake Neighbours to T-Birds - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Amerks Hosting PGA Championship Night in Partnership with PGA on Friday, February 17 - Rochester Americans
- Toronto Marlies Visit Utica Comets in Divisional Matchup - Toronto Marlies
- Detroit Sends Pair to Toledo - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Hogs Match up with Springfield for First Time - Rockford IceHogs
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.
