The visitors came out firing in Saturday night’s rematch - finding the back of the net twice in the opening frame, tacking on another in the middle period and stretching their lead to 4-0 early on in the third.
Much like they did last night, the Checkers came alive in the third, though. Matt Kiersted converted a shorthanded strike shortly after to put the home side on the board, then Henry Bowlby knocked in a sweet cross-ice feed from Riley Bezeau to cut the deficit in half just past the midpoint of the frame. Charlotte’s wave of momentum continued, and a power-play tally from Gerry Mayhew pulled the Checkers all the way back to within one with under four minutes remaining.
The Checkers couldn’t quite recreate last night’s magic, though, and despite several close calls and a nearly successful set play off the draw in the final seconds, time ran out and Toronto earned the win.
QUOTES
Coach Geordie Kinnear on the gameI felt like they out-worked us in the first two periods and now you’re chasing the game against a good hockey team. We found a way to make it close at the end and had opportunities, but the game was won in the first two periods.
Kinnear on what changed to help the team get back within a goal
We gained some confidence because we scored some goals, but early on, we’re usually a group that’s pretty connected and on the same page, but I thought we were disorganized a little bit. A lack of practice time obviously being a younger group. They out-worked us in the first two periods and last night we were the team that I felt out-worked them. It was a split.
Kinnear on special teams play
Obviously they’re an elite power play. I think they’re No. 1 in the league and they got a lot of power play goals. That’s something we have to correct. We like the battle back, but we don’t want to be battling back like that. A good lesson. We’ll move on, get a good day of rest tomorrow, get back at it Monday and get better.
