Wallmark's Winner Caps Checkers' Comeback in Canada
March 23, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
LAVAL, QC - The Checkers' first ever visit to Laval was filled with dramatics, but the visitors came away with two big points thanks to an overtime winner from Lucas Wallmark.
Despite outshooting the home squad 19-13 through the first 40 minutes of play, the Checkers found themselves in a 2-0 hole heading into the second intermission. Charlotte continued to push in the final frame and finally broke through on the scoreboard, with Aleksi Saarela ripping a one-time feed from the side boards for his 21st tally of the season. The visitors kept that momentum rolling and, with under five minutes to play in regulation, Lucas Wallmark fired off a near-identical shot to even the score and force the game beyond 60 minutes.
The Rocket came out firing in the overtime period, dominating control and creating several chances for the first two minutes, but the Checkers turned the tables as time melted down. Circling back into the offensive zone, Janne Kuokkanen dropped a pass to the trailing Wallmark, who blew a wrist shot past Laval netminder Charlie Lindgren to clinch the come-from-behind victory for Charlotte.
Notes
The Checkers are a perfect 3-0 in overtime this season, the only team without an overtime loss ... Tonight was Charlotte's fifth win this season when trailing after two periods ... The Checkers are now 13-4-3 in one-goal games this season ... Lucas Wallmark matched his career high with three points tonight ... Wallmark now leads all AHL players with at least 20 games played in points-per-game ... Wallmark extended his assist/point streak to six games, the longest active streak in the AHL ... Alex Nedeljkovic becomes the first goalie in the AHL this season to hit 30 wins ... Aleksi Saarela is now tied for fourth among league rookies in goals ... Saarela fired seven shots on goal, matching the most by a Checker this season ... Greg McKegg extended his point streak to six games with a pair of helpers tonight, giving him 11 points in 10 games with the Checkers ... Zack Kamrass and Matt Finn both made their Checkers debut ... Jake Chelios and Andrew Miller missed the game due to injury ... Warren Foegele and Josiah Didier missed the game due to suspension ... Sergey Tolchinsky, Zack Stortini and Tyler Ganly served as healthy extras
Up Next
The Checkers and Rocket will face off for the fourth and final time this season tomorrow with an early 3 p.m. puck drop.
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