Checkers News

Despite jumping out to a two-goal lead early in the second period, the Checkers surrendered two goals late in regulation and another late in overtime to fall the Norfolk Admirals 3-2.

The Checkers headed into tonight’s contest with their regional rivals having earned their first back-to-back wins of the season against Milwaukee and riding a four-game winning streak on home ice. They came out of the gates hot, with Justin Shugg tallying a goal just 25 seconds into the game. Brendan Woods added a shorthanded marker early in the second to put Charlotte ahead 2-0.

That score held until the final stages of the third period, when Nic Kerdiles struck twice in the final three minutes, including tying the game with just 38 seconds left. Both Admirals goals came with an extra attacker on the ice. In their second overtime period in as many games, the Checkers created several chances, but it was Rickard Rakell who came away with the game-winner with only seven seconds remaining in the extra frame.

John Muse was stellar in goal for the Checkers. He stood tall against the relentless offensive attack from the Admirals, who pumped 44 shots on goal during regulation and six more in overtime. He also played an integral role in shutting down the opponent’s power-play unit, which was held scoreless on four opportunities.

But despite the effort from Muse and the early lead, Norfolk dominated the play and hung around the whole game until finally breaking through late.

“It wasn’t the end of regulation, it was the whole game,” said head coach Jeff Daniels. “We got out-worked and got what we deserved.

“We got two timely goals but other than that we didn’t create much offense. The power play was awful. They out-worked us and they deserved to win.”

Muse’s 47 saves are the most by a Checkers goalie this season, and his play single-handedly kept the team in front for the majority of the game. But even with such a performance, he put the end results on his shoulders.

“I thought we did a pretty good job all around throughout the game and in the last couple of minutes obviously I have to be better,” said Muse. “If we score two goals, it’s Mac and I’s job to let in one so we can get a win. We’ve got to keep working on some stuff and come back better next game.”

Daniels and Woods saw the final as more of a result of the team allowing Norfolk to continue to get chances.

“He was solid,” said Daniels of his goaltender. “He was in and he was ready to play. It was two bad breaks, but you work you get those breaks and that’s why they got those goals.”

“He deserved a little better result tonight and it sucks that we couldn’t get him the win,” said Woods. “Hopefully we can get back in there and get a ‘dub for him.”

The contest marked the third in four nights for the Checkers, the most densely packed part of the season they have seen so far. But that didn’t seem to be an issue in tonight’s collapse.

“We’ve been at home and we’ve been sleeping in our own bed,” said Woods, who notched his eighth point this year, matching his total from all of last season. “I don’t want to use that as an excuse. We came up a little short and didn’t play a full 60.”

Though it was obviously a sub-par performance and didn’t end the way they would have liked, the Checkers did salvage a point tonight, giving them points in the last three games overall and each of their last five at home. The team will now finish their five-game home stand this weekend by hosting the Iowa Wild, one of two teams below them in the conference standings.

“It’s tough,” said Woods. “It would have been great to come out with six points there (from the first three games of the home stand) but we can’t dwell on that. We’ve got to move forward. We’ve got Iowa coming in this weekend and we’ve got a day off tomorrow to give the body a little rest."

“We’ll take off, move on from this game and get ready for Iowa on Saturday night,” said Daniels.

NOTES

Rakell, who arrived from Anaheim just before game time to play his first AHL game of the season, finished with three points (1g, 2a) … Charlotte extended its point streak to a season-long three games (2-0-1) and its home point streak to five games (4-0-1) … The Checkers’ previous high for most shots allowed this season was 43 … Muse’s previous career high was 43 saves … Shugg’s goal was the earliest the Checkers have scored in a game this season. The franchise record is 12 seconds, set by Brett Sutter in another home game against Norfolk on Jan. 16, 2011 … Shugg’s goal was his 50th as a professional and extended his point streak to three games (2g, 1a) … With an assist, Brock McGinn also extended his point streak to three games (2g, 1a) … Woods’ shorthanded goal was his second of the season and tied him with 10 other players, including teammate Greg Nemisz, for most in the AHL … The Checkers’ five shorthanded goals are tied for second-most in the league and are two more than their league-low total from all of last season … Woods’ eighth point in 20 games tied his total from 42 games last season … Kyle Hagel extended his league lead in major penalties with his ninth of the season, a fight against former ECHL Checker Jared Nightingale … Forwards Patrick Brown, Jared Staal and Brody Sutter missed the game due to injury … Forwards Gabriel Desjardins and Kyle Jean were healthy extras.