Michael Benning scored with 1:01 left in overtime to lift the Charlotte Checkers to a 3-2 victory over the Utica Comets in the finale of a six-game road trip for Florida’s AHL affiliate.
Leading scorer John Leonard and Justin Sourdif drew the assists on the game-winning goal. It was Sourdif’s second helper of the night.
Leonard and Benning had the helpers on Oliver Okuliar’s power-play goal which knotted the score 4:06 into the third. Ben Steeves scored Charlotte’s first goal, with assists going to Sourdif and Okuliar.
Rookie Cooper Black made 33 saves to post his 10th win as the Checkers avenged a 4-3 loss to the Comets at Adirondack Bank Center on Wednesday.
On Friday, Charlotte edged the Rochester Americans by a 2-1 count in front of 6.560 souls at Blue Cross Arena.
C.J. Smith opened the scoring 12:35 into the first period with the lone assist going to Matt Kiersted. Leonard notched his 29th of the season from Smith into an empty net with a minute remaining in regulation to put the Checkers up by two.
Rochester’s Josh Dunne ended veteran Kaapo Kähkönen shutout bid with one second left on the clock. Kähkönen finished the game with 24 saves.
The Checkers (35-19-3-3) completed the roadie with a 4-2 record. They will host the Providence Bruins in a back-to-back at Bojangles Coliseum tonight and tomorrow.