The Checkers closed their three-in-three weekend out on a high note, mounting a thrilling comeback to get revenge on the Providence Bruins thanks to an overtime winner from Andrew Poturalski.
After finding themselves down 2-0 heading toward the midway point of the third, the Checkers finally broke the ice with a power-play snipe from leading scorer Janne Kuokkanen. That seemed to shift things the visitors’ way, and the wave of momentum culminated with Martin Necas gloving down a flying puck just outside the crease and knocking it home to even the score and send the contest to overtime.
Both sides exchanged quality chances in the extra frame and the game appeared to be destined for a shootout, but with 16 seconds remaining Poturalski carried the puck into the middle of the slot and wired a wrister past Zane McIntyre to send the Checkers back to Charlotte with two points.
Scott Darling came away with the victory in his rematch against McIntyre, stopping 26 of the 28 shots he saw in his third start for the team this season.
NOTES
The Checkers finished their three-in-three weekend with a 1-2-0 record … Today’s win snapped the team’s first losing streak of the season … The Checkers are now 4-1 in games ending in overtime this season … This was the second overtime-winning goal of Poturalski’s career … Poturalski is the fourth different Checker to record an overtime-winning goal for the team this season … Charlotte’s 47 shots on goal are a season high for the team … Jake Bean’s five-game point streak came to an end today … Janne Kuokkanen is now tied for seventh in the AHL in scoring and Poturalski is tied for 10th … Michal Cajkovsky, Spencer Smallman and Josiah Didier missed the game due to injury … Zack Stortini served as a healthy extra
