The Checkers continued to dominate on the road, going into Utica and handing the Comets a 3-1 defeat to improve to 6-1-0 on the season.
After getting shut out in their last game, the visitors wasted no time reigniting their offense Wednesday night. Greg McKegg ripped a one-timer off an Andrew Poturalski feed from behind the net less than a minute in, then rookie Morgan Geekie popped home a similar feed on the doorstep from Haydn Fleury early on in the middle frame to double the lead. The Checkers offense would come through once more thanks to a breakaway conversion from the recently NHL debuted Clark Bishop and that would be all the scoring they needed.
Scott Darling, in the AHL on a conditioning stint as he works back from an injury, manned the crease for Charlotte and stood tall against a Comets’ attack that pushed harder and harder as the game went on. The netminder would turn aside 25 of the 26 shots he was faced with – allowing a fluky bounce off an odd-man rush in the final five minutes – and pushed the Checkers to a 3-1 victory in Utica.
NOTES
At 6-1-0 the Checkers now boast the best points percentage in the AHL and are one of two teams to reach six wins … The Checkers are one of four teams that remain perfect on the road … The Checkers have won five straight road games this season, giving them the longest active streak in the AHL, and dating back to last season have earned a point in each of their last 13 road games … Tonight was the fifth time in seven games that the Checkers have allowed two or fewer goals … Tonight was Scott Darling’s first game and win in the AHL since 2/21/15 … Andrew Poturalski is now tied for second in the AHL with eight assists … Nick Schilkey made his season debut for the Checkers tonight … Clark Bishop left the game in the second with an injury and did not return … Cliff Pu, Zack Stortini, Dennis Robertson, Michal Cajkovsky and Alex Nedeljkovic were all healthy extras
UP NEXT
The Checkers continue their road trip with a visit to Binghamton on Friday
