McKegg Leads Checkers to Win over Red-Hot Syracuse
March 31, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
Greg McKegg continued to deliver since joining his new team at the trade deadline with a two-goal, three-point performance as the Checkers topped the red-hot Crunch 3-1 in Syracuse on Saturday.
Trevor Carrick also scored for the Checkers, who maintain an eight-point lead over Bridgeport in the Atlantic Division playoff race with six games remaining. McKegg's linemates, Andrew Poturalski (three assists) and Aleksi Saarela (one goal, two assists), also enjoyed productive nights, while Jeremy Smith made 27 saves to pick up the victory.
Syracuse, which has already clinched a playoff spot, saw its seven-game win streak and nine-game point streak (8-0-1) come to an end. This was their first regulation loss since March 9. The Checkers, meanwhile, improved to 9-2-1 since March 3, including points in each of their last four games (3-0-1).
Starting with his assist on Carrick's first-period opener and continuing with one goal in each of the second and third periods to put the Checkers up 3-0, McKegg extended his point streak to nine games (8g, 6a) - the longest by a Charlotte skater this season. He has recorded at least one point in 12 of 13 games since the Carolina Hurricanes acquired him from Pittsburgh at the NHL's trade deadline.
After Syracuse spoiled Smith's shutout bid in the third period on a five-on-three power play, Saarela iced the game with an empty-net tally - the eighth point in his last six games (3g, 5a).
Bridgeport, the team chasing the Checkers in the playoff race, won 5-1 at Hartford on Saturday to prevent Charlotte from further widening its lead. Bridgeport has one game in hand.
Notes
Charlotte and Syracuse each won two games in the four-game season series ... Saarela, McKegg and Poturalski all posted plus-4 ratings ... Carrick opened the scoring for the second consecutive game. He has nine points (3g, 6a) in his last 10 games dating back to March 9 ... Poturalski extended his point streak to three games (2g, 4a) ... Smith won for just the second time in his last 12 games dating back to Dec. 20 ... Forwards Andrew Miller and Lucas Wallmark, defenseman Jake Chelios and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic missed the game due to injury ... Clark Bishop did not play due to illness ... Forward Nick Schilkey and defensemen Matt Finn and Tyler Ganly were healthy extras.
Up Next
The Checkers begin a four-game home stand with a pair of games against a potential first-round playoff opponent, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
American Hockey League Stories from March 31, 2018
- Rampage Split Weekend Series against Heat After 4-1 Loss - San Antonio Rampage
- Hogs Bury Barracuda with 4-Goal Third Period - Rockford IceHogs
- Monsters Drop Tight-Checking Tilt in Ontario, 5-3 - Cleveland Monsters
- Wolves' Magic Number Drops to 3 in Shootout Loss - Chicago Wolves
- Blue-Collar Heat Outwork San Antonio for 4-1 Win - Stockton Heat
- Four-Goal Third Period Propels Amerks Past Devils - Rochester Americans
- Barracuda Downed by Rockford's Four-Goal Third - San Jose Barracuda
- Iowa Falls to Tucson 4-3 - Iowa Wild
- Bridgeport scores once shorthanded, twice on the power play, and twice at even strength in Saturday's win - Bridgeport Islanders
- Checkers Snap Seven-Game Crunch Streak with 4-1 Win - Syracuse Crunch
- Admirals Can't Hold Lead against Griffins - Milwaukee Admirals
- Bau Scores Twice as Bears Ground Rocket, 6-3 - Hershey Bears
- Bridgeport Batters Wolf Pack 5-1 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- T-Birds Put up Five in Front of Sellout Crowd, But Are Stunned by Comets - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Sens Beaten in First Visit to Allentown - Belleville Senators
- Penguins Lose Heated Battle with Bruins, 3-1 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Devils Lose Lead in 5-3 Loss to Amerks - Binghamton Devils
- P-Bruins Magic Number Down to Four After 3-1 Win over Penguins - Providence Bruins
- Comets Reign over Thunderbirds in a Wild Affair - Utica Comets
- McKegg Leads Checkers to Win over Red-Hot Syracuse - Charlotte Checkers
- Moose Eclipsed by Marlies Late - Manitoba Moose
- Rampage Sign Defenseman Neal Goff to Amateur Tryout Contract - San Antonio Rampage
- Marlies Set American Hockey League Road Wins Record - Toronto Marlies
- Reign Sign Mikey Eyssimont to ATO - Ontario Reign
- American Hockey League Announces Suspension - AHL
- Flames Recall Defenseman Oliver Kylington on Emergency Basis - Stockton Heat
- Game Preview: Condors Host San Diego at 7 p.m. - Bakersfield Condors
- Red-Hot Hogs Seek to School Barracuda - Rockford IceHogs
- Game #63 Preview: Tucson at Iowa - Tucson Roadrunners
- Rampage Defenseman Chris Butler Recalled Under Emergency Conditions - San Antonio Rampage
- Game Preview: Rocket Fly into Hershey on Dietz & Watson Ham Shoot Night - Hershey Bears
- G Alex Lyon Recalled by Flyers - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Game Day Build-Up: Senators at Phantoms, March 31 - Belleville Senators
- Round 2 in Manitoba - Toronto Marlies
- Penguins Sign Niclas Almari to ATO - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Sabres Assign Criscuolo to Rochester - Rochester Americans
- Monsters Outlasted by Gulls, 3-1 - Cleveland Monsters
- Condors Road Point Streak Ends in Ontario - Bakersfield Condors
- Roadrunners Post Six to Outlast Iowa Friday Night - Tucson Roadrunners
- Moose Tripped by Marlies 3-2 - Manitoba Moose
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.
