Poturalski, Saarela Help Checkers Blast Rocket
March 24, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
LAVAL, QC - Despite some push-back late in regulation, the Checkers rolled their way to weekend sweep with a 5-3 defeat of the Laval Rocket.
Carrying the momentum of last night's overtime win, the Checkers came out firing in today's rematch, with Aleksi Saarela finishing off a tic-tac-toe passing play from linemates Lucas Wallmark and Greg McKegg to put the visitors on the board first. That trio would connect again in the middle frame to double that advantage, this time with McKegg scooping home a nice feed. The Checkers pounced on the reeling Rocket minutes later as Andrew Poturalski powered through a group of Laval defenders and fired a falling-away shot past Zach Fucale to put Charlotte ahead 3-0 through 40 minutes of play.
Poturalski kept things rolling in the third, opening the frame by tapping home a rebound out front for his second of the game. Laval finally broke through on the scoreboard minutes later, but a one-time blast by Saarela on the man advantage answered for the Checkers. The Rocket had one last push left in them, tallying back-to-back power-play tallies in the final five minutes of regulation, but the visitors would put an end to that, icing out the remainder of the clock to clinch a 5-3 victory.
Notes
The Checkers have now won four straight road games, one shy of their longest streak this season ... The Checkers went a perfect 4-0-0 against the Laval Rocket this season ... Tonight was the third time this season that the Checkers have had two players score multiple goals ... Nicolas Roy's seven shots on goal are tied for the most by a Checker this season ... Lucas Wallmark extended his assist/point streak to eight games, tying the longest streaks by a Checker this season ... Greg McKegg extended his point streak to seven games ... Saarela lit the lamp for the second consecutive game and Janne Kuokkanen notched an assist for the second consecutive game ... Josiah Didier missed the game while serving the second of his three-game suspension ... Jake Chelios and Andrew Miller missed the game due to injury ... Nick Schilkey, Mike Ferrantino, Sergey Tolchinsky and Tyler Ganly served as healthy extras
Up Next
The Checkers will return home for a week of practice before heading back on the road next weekend, starting with a 7:05 p.m. puck drop Friday in Rochester.
American Hockey League Stories from March 24, 2018
- Rockford Rolls over Wolves Behind Bouma's Three-Point Night - Rockford IceHogs
- Hronek Wins Game in Shootout, 3-2 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Barrcuda Fall to Ontario at Home, 7-3 - San Jose Barracuda
- Amerks Playoff Bound After 4-2 Win over Thunderbirds - Rochester Americans
- Pollock Helps Heat to Big Road Win over Manitoba 3-1 - Stockton Heat
- San Antonio Outshines Texas 2-1 on 10th Annual Pucks & Paws Night - San Antonio Rampage
- Grand Rapids Defeats Iowa 3-2 in Shootout - Iowa Wild
- Penguins Down Devils in Shootout, 5-4 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Gulls Top Cleveland in OT 4-3 - San Diego Gulls
- Crunch Shutout Comets, 2-0 - Syracuse Crunch
- Devils Erase Three-Goal Deficit in Shootout Loss to Penguns - Binghamton Devils
- Phantoms Fall at Providence as Stolarz Returns to Lineup - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Wolves' Road Win Streak Busted by IceHogs - Chicago Wolves
- Koppanen, Cehlarik Score Twice in 6-1 Rout of Phantoms - Providence Bruins
- Monsters Clipped by Gulls in Overtime, 4-3 - Cleveland Monsters
- T-Birds Can't Catch Late Breaks in Loss to Rochester - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Comets Shutout in Defensive Duel - Utica Comets
- Rocket Can't Overcome Early Deficit in 5-3 Loss against Charlotte - Laval Rocket
- Moutrey Has Game-Winner as Sens Beat Marlies - Belleville Senators
- Hershey Nudges Pack 2-1 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Poturalski, Saarela Help Checkers Blast Rocket - Charlotte Checkers
- Bowey Scores Twice as Bears Defeat Hartford, 2-1 - Hershey Bears
- Rampage Goaltender Spencer Martin Recalled to Colorado Avalanche - San Antonio Rampage
- Game #60 Preview: Tucson at Bakersfield - Tucson Roadrunners
- Canucks Recall Ashton Sautner Under Emergency Conditions, Comets Sign Matt Leitner - Utica Comets
- Sens Sign Dziurzynski to PTO - Belleville Senators
- Hogs Hunt Wolves, Playoffs in Illinois Lottery Cup Showdown - Rockford IceHogs
- Penguins Come Back from Down 3-0, But Lose in Overtime - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Panthers Recall Sateri, Thunderbirds Recall Cowley - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Monsters Sign Left Wing Grant Besse to PTO Tryout Contract - Cleveland Monsters
- Game Preview: Condors Host Tucson at 7 p.m. - Bakersfield Condors
- Condors Roll Past Ontario, 4-1 - Bakersfield Condors
- Game Preview: Bears Open Home-And-Home in Hartford - Hershey Bears
- Marlies Host Belleville in Second Half of Back-To-Back - Toronto Marlies
- Game Day Build-Up: Senators at Marlies, March 24 - Belleville Senators
- T-Birds Continue Road Trip in Rochester, Toronto - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Marlies Use Three Goal Second Period to Clinch Win over Belleville - Belleville Senators
- Griffins Score Four Goals in Two Minutes - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Checkers Rally for 3-2 Overtime Victory over Rocket - Laval Rocket
- McNeill, Richard Net Doubles as Ads Drop Hogs - 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.
