The red-hot Griffins, who entered tonight having earned points in eight of their last 10 games, got on the board first, with Nathan Paetsch lighting the lamp late in the first frame to give Grand Rapids a lead going into the second period. That lead was short-lived, however, as Chad LaRose fired home a loose puck out front on the power play and knotted the score just 38 seconds into the period.
Alex Aleardi, playing in his second game since being recalled from the ECHL, put the Checkers in front less than five minutes later, re-directing a beautiful cross-ice pass from rookie Patrick Brown past Tom McCollum. Teemu Pulkkinen answered shortly after, sniping the top corner from the left circle for the Griffins’ second power play goal of the night.
Despite snapping a drought of six games and 24 opportunities without scoring a power play goal and completing a huge kill to end regulation and start overtime, the Checkers special teams struggled. Both of the Griffins’ goals in regulation came with the man advantage, and the Checkers were unable to capitalize on any of the other three power plays they were given, including two back-to-back opportunities that essentially amounted to a four-minute power play.
The Checkers were also burned by their lack of offense once again. They have scored two goals or fewer in 12 of their 17 road games this season, where they have posted an abysmal 3-11-3 record. The flip side of that is that for the 11th time in 17 road contests, the Checkers were within one goal heading into the final frame, with this game being tied 2-2 at that point.
They did see Aleardi mark his second straight game with a goal, which, with the assist he earned on the LaRose goal, gives the forward three points in the two games that he has played with the Checkers since being recalled from Florida. Aleardi appeared to be the most dangerous offensive threat on the ice for Charlotte throughout the game, using his speed to create a few quality chances. LaRose’s strike, his eighth of the season, now gives him sole possession of the team-lead in points with 18.
MacIntyre made his second consecutive start, stopping 27 of the 30 shots he faced. The veteran kept his team in the game despite being constantly bombarded with pressure from the high-flying Griffins.
The Checkers will practice tomorrow in Grand Rapids before getting a rematch with the Griffins on Friday night. That contest will mark the second of four-straight road games for Charlotte.