Checkers News

Despite the season-long struggle, the Checkers’ ailing power play came to life, propelling them to a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Marlies in front of a sell-out crowd.

The Marlies, looking to further extend their 10-game point streak, came out firing on all cylinders, outshooting the Checkers in the first period 14-7. It was the home team that struck first, however, as Ben Holmstrom deflected a Trevor Carrick shot from the point past Toronto goalie Christopher Gibson to put the Checkers on top 1-0 heading into the second.

Toronto quickly knotted the game at one when rookie Connor Brown ripped a wrister that snuck just under the arm of John Muse. The two teams remained deadlocked for the majority of the rest of the frame until a late power play for the Checkers. Justin Shugg fired a shot from the point that was tipped in by Chad LaRose, giving Charlotte a 2-1 advantage to start the final period.

The third period saw the Marlies pressing and creating chances, again outshooting the Checkers 12-7, but a seeing-eye laser from Shugg with under three minutes to go squashed the Toronto rally. Zach Boychuk then iced the game with an empty netter that made him the Checkers all-time goals leader and sealed a 4-1 romp by Charlotte.

The Checkers again showed their ability to rebound after disappointing results, having found their way back into the win column following a 4-1 loss to Toronto one day prior.

“It was huge,” said head coach Jeff Daniels. “It was an ugly win – we didn’t have much gas in the tank there tonight, but Muser gave us some life there. We got some timely goals.”

Wrapping up a grueling stretch of five games in eight nights with a back-to-back series was tough for the Checkers, but early offense helped.

“If we had dug in a hole I don’t know if we would have been able to climb out of it,” said Daniels. “You get a goal and all of the sudden there’s life on the bench and guys are excited. A couple of other big goals through the game, guys just fed off that.”

Both of the Checkers first two goals came on man advantages, giving them life in an area that has haunted them all season. Entering tonight, they found themselves dead last in the AHL in power-play percentage and were mired in a 1-for-41 stretch on the power play over their last 11 games. Personnel changes on the top power-play unit, including the additions of Boychuk and Michal Jordan, seemed to spark the group.

Moving Shugg to the point was another key change.

“At that point we’ve got nothing to lose,” said Daniels. “We were 30th in the league and you can’t go any lower than that. Tonight it looked good and I think also with Chucky, that addition is definitely going to help.

“It got to a point where we were looking to do anything. Shuggy’s a guy that’s capable of making a play like he did on Rosey’s goal there. He sees the ice well, he’s a threat to shoot and he can also make a play.”

Another key to the Checkers’ win was their ability to score that third goal and give themselves a cushion, something that hasn’t happened much this season as the team has watched leads slip through their fingers late on multiple occasions.

“We need to step on the gas,” said Holmstrom. “That’s the same thing as last night. We had a chance to win the game even though it wasn’t the way we wanted to play. Tonight we came out on the right side and that’s what it’s all about. You’ve got to find a way to get points.”

“We’ve just got to continue to score when we have a lead,” said Shugg. “You can’t sit back on your heels and let them come at you and pellet your goalie with 20 shots in the third period when you’re up by one goal. I just think we’ve beaten ourselves mentally a little bit but it’s a learning curve.”

With the win tonight, the Checkers will now enjoy a few much-needed days off before a tough mid-week three-in-three, a stretch where they will look to create their own streak and claw their way back in the hunt.

“It was an ugly win so we’ve got to be better going into Norfolk and playing OKC is one of the top teams,” said Daniels of that three-in-three. “It’s more important that we got the win. They count the same but we’ve got to make sure we rest this weekend, get those two days off and be back to practice on Monday.”

“You’ve got to try to string three, four, five games together and throw some points up quick to try to get back in it,” said Holmstrom. “If we do that, we’ll put ourselves in a spot in mid-February and going down the stretch run to kind of try to find a playoff spot.”

NOTES

Boychuk's 105 goals put him one ahead of Chris Terry for the franchise's all-time lead ... The Checkers scored multiple power-play goals for the first time all season. They had one goal in their last 41 opportunities over a previous 11-game stretch … Muse was winless in each of his previous five starts (0-4-1) … The Checkers entered the game with an all-time record of 0-5-0 against a Toronto team that had points in each of its last 10 games overall (7-0-3) … When facing same opponent in consecutive games, Checkers 3-8-4 in first half and 9-6-1 in second … Eight of LaRose’s 10 goals have come in his last 18 games … Shugg’s assist on LaRose’s goal was his 50th as a professional … Forwards Gabriel Desjardins and Greg Nemisz and defenseman Beau Schmitz missed the game due to injury … Forward Alex Aleardi was a healthy extra.