The Charlotte Checkers downed the Hershey Bears, 3-1 Saturday night at the Bojangles’ Coliseum in Charlotte. The loss drops the Bears record to 30-26-5-4 (69 points) on the season. It was the Bears fourth-straight loss and seventh-straight loss on the road.
The Checkers notched the game’s first tally with just 39 seconds remaining in the first period to take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
The Bears tied the game early in the middle frame on Brett Leason’s third of the season and that would be it for scoring in the second period.
The Checkers reclaimed the lead early in the final frame and would add an empty net goal for the 3-1 win.
STARTERS
The Bears started goaltender Pheonix Copley (15-8-5-2, 2.37 GAA, .912 sv%) in net while the Checkers countered with Joey Daccord (15-10-2-0, 2.41 GAA, .923 sv%). The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:
Injuries: Brian Pinho (shoulder surgery), Matt Moulson (back surgery), Mike Sgarbossa (upper-body injury), Riley Sutter (upper-body injury).
Scratches: Jake Massie, Marcus Vela and Macoy Erkamps,
FIRST PERIOD
The Bears and Checkers skated to a scoreless draw for most of the opening frame before the Checkers’ Scott Wilson (23) netted a power play tally with just 39 seconds remaining in the opening stanza. Cale Fleury (25) and Connor Carrick (22).
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) April 2, 2022
The period would end with the Bears trailing 1-0. Charlotte led in shots, 15-8. Hershey was 0 for 1 and Charlotte 1 for 3 on the power play in the first frame. The Bears were 5-10-1-2 this season when trailing after the first period.
SECOND PERIOD
The Bears tied the game early in the middle frame on Brett Leason’s third goal of the season. Alex Alexeyev (15) and Shane Gersich (19) had the helpers.
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) April 2, 2022
Pheonix Copley made a pair of big breakaway saves late in the middle frame to keep the game even.
‘The second period concluded with the game tied 1-1. Charlotte led in shots 11-8 in the middle frame and 26-16 after two periods. The Bears scoring 63-51 in middle stanza, so far this season. The bears were 7-8-2-2 when tied after two periods.
THIRD PERIOD
The Checkers reclaimed the lead early in the final frame with a goal from Zac Dalpe (27) at 2:46 of the period. Aleksi Heponiemi (23) and Cale Fleury (26) had the assists.
Jon has been a Caps fan since day one, attending his first game at the Capital Centre in 1974. His interest in the Caps has grown over the decades and included time as a season ticket holder. He has been a journalist covering the team for 10+ years, primarily focusing on analysis, analytics and prospect development.
Photo: Charlotte Checkers
Make it stop!
Another tough one to swallow.