The teams battled to a scoreless stalemate through a slow-moving first, combining for just 14 shots on goal. But that would not last long, as the Wild jumped on the board first thanks to a converted wrap around by Marc Hagel 5:51 into the second. The Checkers wasted no time responding, however, as Brody Sutter deflected in a point blast from Beau Schmitz to knot things up 61 seconds later.
The Checkers then piled on the offense, with Chad LaRose and Justin Shugg each lighting the lamp later in the frame to push Charlotte ahead by two. Iowa poured on the pressure in the third, pulling back within one just 29 seconds in, but the Checkers held strong and fended off the Wild attack. The home team got their best chance at tying it in the waning moments of regulation, when a squirming puck got behind John Muse but rolled just to the left of the post. The Checkers scooped the puck up and Zach Boychuk deposited it into the empty net on the other side to seal a 4-2 Charlotte victory.
The team’s other offense came via Sutter, who continues to be a dominate force down the middle for Charlotte, deflecting in his third goal in two games, and Boychuk, who finished with a game-high +3 rating.
On special teams, the Checkers were unable to keep their hot streak with the man advantage going as they were held without a power play for just the second time this season. On the other side, their strong penalty kill continued to deliver, having now killed each of their last seven opportunities. That comes after a stretch that saw them give up six goals on 20 chances across three games.
John Muse took the Charlotte crease for the first time since being pulled after allowing two goals on three shots three minutes into last week’s loss to San Antonio and showed no signs of being rattled. Muse looked confident in net and turned aside 29 of the 31 shots the Wild peppered him with. He was especially impressive down the stretch when Iowa ratcheted up the pressure. The victory is Muse’s third in his last five starts.
The Checkers hectic slate of games continues as they travel home tomorrow before taking one final bus trip to Norfolk Wednesday. They will then return to the Time Warner Cable Arena ice for their final home stand of the year, a season-long six-games stretch.
