Greg McKegg Leads Checkers to Win Over Red-Hot Syracuse
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 Syracuse Crunch 3-1 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.