Justin Shugg’s goal in the game’s final minutes prevented the Checkers, who lost 3-0 in Norfolk on Wednesday, from suffering consecutive shutouts for the first time in their five AHL seasons. It did not prevent them from breaking a road winless streak that now stands at eight games (0-7-1), extending a franchise record. Charlotte, which recently went 3-1-1 on a five-game home stand, has not won away from home since Oct. 24.
Drew MacIntyre made 37 saves for the Checkers, who lost the shots battle by a 40-22 margin that could have been worse had the visitors not rebounded with a 13-5 lead in a third period that saw Texas enjoy a three-goal cushion for all but the first three minutes.
Charlotte played the first half of the game in serious penalty trouble, including six consecutive minutes on the penalty kill in the first period, but was able to keep the game scoreless thanks to MacIntyre and a defensive unit that has now nullified 21 consecutive power plays over its last five games.
It wasn’t until the second period that the Stars, who were out-shooting the Checkers 24-5 at that point, break through when Branden Troock started in the corner, walked in to the middle of the ice and fired a shot through traffic for the game’s first goal. Matej Stransky, who scored the Calder Cup winning goal for the Stars last season, made it 2-0 close to five minutes later when he was also able to enter a key area of the ice unimpeded during four-on-four play and out-waited MacIntyre with a low shot.
Early in the third, Greg Rallo built the three-goal lead on a one-timer from the left circle. With the game all but out of reach, the Stars took four consecutive penalties in the game’s last 12 minutes, with Shugg ultimately ending the Checkers’ drought of 25 power plays with no goals during a brief two-man advantage with approximately two minutes remaining.
Shugg was also responsible for the Checkers’ most recent power play goal on Nov. 29. The team, which entered the game ranked 30th in the AHL on the power play, has two goals in its last 36 opportunities (5.6 percent) over the last nine games.
Texas, which defeated the Checkers 8-2 in Charlotte earlier this season before the Checkers rallied back two days later, now leads the eight-game season series with a 2-1-0 record.