Checkers News

The Checkers continued to show off their flair for the dramatic Friday night, topping the Texas Stars in overtime 5-4 thanks to a hat trick from Brock McGinn.

After surrendering the first goal of the night, the Checkers came alive. McGinn, David Wolhberg and Ryan Murphy all lit the lamp within six minutes of each other to build a sizeable lead early. The Stars wouldn’t go away, however, netting three unanswered goals to head into the third period with a 4-3 lead.

But as they have all year, the Checkers came through in the third, with McGinn hammering home a centering pass in front to knot things up with under six to go in regulation. The game proceeded to overtime, but not before Texas defenseman Stephen Johns took a delay of game penalty after flipping the puck out of play from his own zone.

Starting the overtime with a 4-on-3 advantage, the Checkers wasted no time getting to work on the power play. After several chances and multiple hustle plays by Trevor Carrick to keep the puck in the zone, it was McGinn who fired one in from the right side, completing his hat trick and sending the Checkers home with two points.

Tonight not only marked the fourth time in 12 games that McGinn has netted multiple goals, but it was the rookie’s first pro hat trick and the first hat trick by a Checker since March of 2014. Since returning from his second NHL stint with the Carolina Hurricanes, McGinn has racked up five points in two contests and has taken over as the team’s goal leader with 10.

While the Checkers’ offense has been largely inconsistent throughout the season, tonight was a prime example of just how dangerous it can be. The captain Derek Ryan came away with three helpers on the night, while Ryan Murphy continues to be a point-scoring machine in the AHL, finding the back of the net to keep his point-per-game roll going.

In net, Drew MacIntyre made his second straight start and earned his second straight win. While he did allow four goals, the veteran netminder came up big when called upon, making 41 saves to keep a potent Stars’ offensive attack at bay in crunch time.

After sweeping their way through the Lone Star state, the Checkers will return home for a pair of weekday matchups with the Iowa Wild back in the friendly confines of Bojangles’ Coliseum.

NOTES Tonight was the first hat trick by a Checkers since March 2, 2014 … Tonight was Trevor Carrick 100th career pro and AHL game … T.J. Hensick returned to the lineup for the first time since Nov. 8 … Brendan Woods missed the game due to injury … Erik Karlsson, Ryan Rashid and Mike Cornell served as healthy extras