Charlotte Checkers Oklahoma City Barons
The Checkers’ post-holiday slump continued in Oklahoma City as they dropped their third straight by a score of 4-2.

The first-place Barons brought pressure early and often, getting on the board first thanks to Anton Lander, who put home a rebound just 88 seconds into the game. Despite peppering John Muse with 16 shots in the frame, Oklahoma City couldn’t put anything else past the Checkers netminder, who stood tall for most of the game, withstanding a barrage of pucks from the Barons’ potent offense to finish with 40 saves.

Rookie blue liner Dennis Robertson evened the score midway through the second, ripping a one-timer on a loose puck for his first professional goal. Oklahoma City responded late in the period after a mad scramble in front of the crease led to the puck finding its way over the goal line, giving the Barons a one-goal lead heading into the final 20 minutes of regulation.

Charlotte Checkers Oklahoma City BaronsScore Sheet
The Barons again struck early in the frame, with Ryan Hamilton streaking in and deflecting a pass from the corner into the net just 78 seconds in to extend the Oklahoma City lead. Andrew Miller tallied an insurance marker shortly after, taking the zone with speed and cutting across the front of the crease before backhanding the puck over a sprawling Muse. Justin Shugg added his 10th goal of the season with two-minutes remaining, but it was too little, too late, and the Checkers fell 4-2.

The 44 shots that Oklahoma City put on goal is the second-most allowed by Charlotte this season and marks the second-straight game in which the team has allowed at least 40 shots. After surrendering the first goal early in regulation, Muse stepped up and kept the Checkers within striking distance until the third period. With the absence of Drew MacIntyre, whose team was eliminated from Spengler Cup play yesterday, Muse was making his third consecutive start, the first time this season that has happened. In fact, the goalie had not made any consecutive starts prior to this stretch.

The Checkers were shorthanded in other facets as well, as the recall of Ryan Murphy left them with only five healthy defensemen heading into the day, predicating the addition of Austin Levi from the ECHL, who played in just his 11th AHL game. The team also had a scare on the other side of the ice when Brock McGinn blocked a shot in the first period and struggled to limp his way off the ice. After not taking the ice with the team to begin the second, the rookie returned to the bench later in the frame and finished the game, much to the relief of the offense-starved team.

With tonight’s 0-for-3 performance on the power play, the Checkers’ cellar-dwelling special teams unit continues to struggle. During this current three-game skid, Charlotte has gone scoreless in 14 man advantages. On the bright side, their penalty-kill unit has continued to shine, keeping the Barons’ high-powered attack without a goal on three opportunities. The Checkers have gone five-straight games without allowing a power play goal.

The team will now return to Charlotte looking to bust their slump with a quick two-game series against the Texas Stars, beginning this Saturday with Star Wars Night.

NOTES

Muse’s 40 saves marked his second-highest total of the season. He made 38 saves against the Barons on Sunday … Robertson’s multi-point outing (1g, 1a) was his second of the season and first since opening night on Oct. 10. He became the fifth player to score his first professional goal with the Checkers this season … With two assists, Brendan Woods finished December with eight points (4g, 4a) in 11 games. He had eight points in 44 career AHL games entering this season … Oklahoma City has won five of six meetings with the Checkers this season. The teams play each other six more times … The Checkers’ three-game winless streak (0-2-1) ties their longest of the season, set twice previously … Forward Chad LaRose was a late scratch and did not play, leaving the Checkers without each of their co-scoring leaders as Murphy joined the NHL’s Hurricanes on Tuesday … The Checkers went 0-for-3 on the power play, extending their streak to 18 consecutive power plays (four games) with no goals. They are 4-for-68 (5.9 percent) in their last 17 games dating back to Nov. 22 … The Checkers were 3-for-3 on the penalty kill, making them a perfect 17-for-17 over their last five outings … Defenseman Austin Levi, recalled from ECHL Stockton earlier in the day, played his first AHL game since March 7 of last season … Forwards Greg Nemisz and Brody Sutter and defenseman Beau Schmitz missed the game due to injury.