Checkers Hand Stars a 9-3 Loss
Apr 8, 2017| Boxscore Photos |
Shots: Stars - 18 Checkers - 38 |
Stransky Scores Twice for Texas in Loss
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A four-goal outburst in period one set the tone for the Charlotte Checkers as they cruised to a 9-3 win over the Texas Stars on Saturday night in front of 8,035 fans in attendance at Bojangles' Coliseum.
Matej Stransky scored two of the Stars' three goals in the game. Aleksi Saarela (goal, two assists) and Dennis Robertson (two goals, assist) each tallied three-point games for Charlotte. Tom McCollum stopped 15 of 18 shots in net to earn his 11th win in 14 games.
The Stars (32-35-1-4) and the Checkers (38-29-5-0) wrap up their season series on Sunday at 12 noon CST.
Tied with the Cleveland Monsters for the final playoff spot in the Central Division, the Checkers took control of the game with a four-goal first period. Philip Samuelsson drilled a one-timer from the point for a power-play goal at 5:17. Six minutes later, Robertson tallied his first of a two-goal night to make it 2-0 Checkers. Saarela then wristed home Charlotte's third goal at 13:51 and Patrick Dwyer finished off a centering feed from the corner with just under four minutes to play in the period.
Texas stopped the bleeding momentarily in the second with Travis Morin setting up Stransky in the slot for a power-play goal at 5:33. Andrej Nestrasil gave Charlotte a four-goal lead again at 9:27 of the period to make it a 5-1 and chase former Checkers' goaltender Justin Peters from the Texas net.
The two teams combined for three goals in the final minute of play as Andrew Poturalski and Patrick Brown each scored before Stransky added his second with 20 seconds left in the middle period.
Andrew Miller and Robertson each scored for Charlotte in the third. Ethan Werek scored for the Stars.
Maxime Lagace came on in relief of Peters to stop 13 of 17 shots. Peters finished 16 of 21 in net in the loss.
The Stars finished 1-for-3 on the power play. Charlotte went 3-for-8.
| Three Stars: 1. Robertson (CHA) 2. Saarela (CHA) 3. Poturalski (CHA) |
Goaltenders: W - McCollum L - Peters |
Photo Credit: Greg Forwerck/Charlotte Checkers