Checkers News

After taking the Barons down on a buzzer-beating goal last night, the Checkers could not replicate that performance, getting steamrolled by Oklahoma City 6-1.

Curtis Hamilton opened the scoring just 73 seconds into the game with a quick wrister and the Barons never let off the gas. Connor Jones and Andrew Miller each chipped one in of their own and the Checkers headed to the first intermission down 3-0. It marked the seventh time this season that Charlotte has allowed three or more goals in the first frame of a game, all of which resulted in losses.

The Checkers stopped the bleeding somewhat in the second period, surrendering just one goal, but they could not mount any significant pressure on Oklahoma City’s goalie Laurent Brossoit. Heading into the third needing a miracle of a comeback, the Checkers played the Barons to a stalemate until the final five minutes of regulation, when Miller tallied two goals 56 seconds apart to complete his hat trick. Brendan Woods broke up Brossoit’s shutout bid with one minute to go, but it was too little, too late and the Barons came away with a lopsided victory.

The path to the penalty box was a familiar one for the Checkers, as they took 11 minor penalties and gave the Barons nine power-play opportunities. While it could have been worse, with Oklahoma City only converting twice, the visitors’ already-struggling offense had a tough time getting any kind of momentum going for a rally with their numerous trips to the box.

Drew MacIntyre manned the crease for the Checkers, marking his fourth start in the last five games. The six goals scored were the most the veteran netminder has allowed this season, though the defense in front of him did not offer much in the way of support. The Barons’ high-powered offense was buzzing around the Charlotte zone all night, with several of the goals coming via uncontested shots from the slot. Half of those goals came via Miller, who has been one of the most prolific scorers this season, pulling into a tie for third in the AHL in goals.

On the opposite side of the ice, Brossoit stood strong despite not seeing a ton of action. He seemed to have his second shutout of Charlotte in the bag, but Woods converted on a nice rush and snuck the puck through five-hole to put the Checkers on the board. Regardless of the one blemish, Brossoit continues to frustrate the Checkers. He has held Charlotte to two or fewer goals in five of his seven starts against them, going 4-1 in those instances.

The Checkers will look to return to the form that helped them beat the two top teams in the Western Conference when they head to San Antonio for another division clash on Tuesday.