The Charlotte Checkers completed its four-game homestand by splitting a pair of games against the Atlantic Division-leading Hershey Bears at Bojangles Coliseum over the weekend.
On Saturday, veteran goaltender Chris Driedger stopped 17 of 18 shots to backstop the Checkers to a 3-1 win over the Bears. The game was scoreless until John Leonard notched his 21st goal of the season, with the lone assist going to Kyle Criscuolo, with 2:29 remaining in the second period. Hendrix Lapierre would draw the visitors even 5:31 into the third. With the game seemingly heading to overtime, Michael Benning got the game-winner with 29 seconds left in regulation, assists to Rasmus Asplund and Matt Kiersted. Criscuolo would complete the scoring with an empty-netter 16 seconds later.
Hershey would get a 26-save shutout from Clay Stevenson to beat the Checkers 2-0 on Sunday. Ivan Miroshnichenko’s power-play goal 11:38 into the second period stood as the game-winner. Ethan Bear clinched it with a late empty-netter. Ken Appleby was the undeserving loser, finishing with 20 saves on 21 shots faced. Wilmer Skoog, Ben Steeves and Jesse Puljujärvi each registered four shots on goal for Charlotte.
The Checkers (28-15-3-2) are off until Friday when they play the first of a pair of games in Cleveland against the Monsters at Rocket Arena.