The Charlotte Checkers (16-9-2-0) started their five-game highway journey with a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Hershey Bears (14-13-1-0) at Big Enviornment on Sunday evening.
Nate Smith scored his first purpose with the Checkers 1:28 into regulation, sliding the puck previous Bears netminder Mitch Gibson after a feed from Nolan Foote. Tobias Bjornfot recorded the secondary help on Smith’s opening tally. Smith joined Charlotte after signing a two-year, one-way AHL take care of the membership on December 11.
Mike Benning added some insurance coverage at 18:31 of the second interval, amassing his third purpose of the season. Robert Mastrosimone picked off a move within the slot and dropped it for Benning, who snapped a shot by way of Gibson’s proper arm.
The Bears got here out with a ferocious push within the third interval, scoring two power-play objectives 1:49 aside. Former Checker Spencer Smallman and Louie Belpedio lit the lamp for Hershey, tying the sport.
Sandis Vilmanis buried the game-winning purpose with 1:18 left in regulation. Brett Chorske stole the puck behind the Hershey internet, centered it for Smith, who moved it throughout the slot for Vilmanis. The Riga, Latvia, native made no mistake, firing his seventh purpose of the season previous a sprawling Gibson. Cooper Black recorded his thirteenth win of the season with 24 saves, enhancing to 10-1 in his final 11 outings. Gibson stopped 19 pictures within the loss.
NOTES
Charlotte has gained 4 of their final 5 video games (4-1) … Foote has 4 factors in his earlier 5 appearances … Black presently ranks second within the AHL in wins … Smith performed 60 video games final season with the Abbotsford Canucks, successful a Calder Cup championship in 2024-25 … The Checkers went 0-for-4 on the facility play and 3-for-5 on the penalty kill … Ludvig Jansson, Mitch Vande Sompel, Ryan McAllister, Eamon Powell, MacKenzie Entwistle, Hunter St. Martin, Riese Gaber, Tyler Motte and Louis Domingue have been scratched for Charlotte.
Written by Cristiano Simonetta
