The Checkers’ special teams accounted for 3 goals in the 4-2 win over Rochester.
By CRAIG POTTER
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Some poor penalties by the Rochester Americans and fine goaltending by Alex Nedeljkovic of the Charlotte Checkers propelled the visitors from North Carolina to complete a sweep of the 2-game series on Saturday night by a 4-2 count before 3,076 fans at the Blue Cross Arena.
An 0-2 start does not necessarily mean a poor season lies ahead. As one of the off-ice officials noted that during the years of the really good Amerks teams, they didn’t start playing well until after Christmas.
“Last year we won our first two and the lost our next three,” said Amerks coach Chris Taylor. “We should have been 1-4 but Linus (Ullmark, the goalie) stole one in Syracuse for us.
“It’s going to take some time, and we know that.”
The Checkers converted on 2-of-4 power play opportunities, and also scored a shorthanded goal in establishing a 4-2 advantage heading into theh third period.
On Friday night, Charlotte took a 3-2 lead into the final stanza and doubled their score for a 6-2 triumph.
The atmosphere changed drastically in the third period Saturday as the Amerks dominated by firing 20 shots on Nedeljkovic.
“The third period is how we can play hockey,” Taylor said.
However, the Charlotte goalie was equal to the task and turned aside all 20 shots to preserve the 4-2 victory.
The Checkers grabbed a 1-0 lead 3 minutes into the game, but Eric Cornel knotted the count 1-1 midway through the period off assists from Alex Nylander and Zach Redmond.
Redmond, who led the Amerks in scoring last season, also was not discouraged by the 0-2 start.
“I kind of go back to my first year with the Norfolk Admirals,” Redmond said. “We started off super slow, even through the first 20, and by the end of the year nobody could touch them. I think they swept all the way through to the Calder Cup.
“It’s two games. You don’t want to get too down about it. There’s definitely things we need to work on, and we’ll start on Monday.”
The Amerks took their first lead of the season 9 seconds into the second stanza as the Checkers turned the puck over inside their blue line. Nylander found Wayne Simpson as he netted his first goal as an Amerk for a 2-1 advantage.
“We showed little glimpses of what we’re capable of doing when we’re playing well,” said Simpson.
However, things went south from there through the end of the period as the Checkers sandwiched power play tallies around a shorthanded goal for a 4-2 lead.
Scott Wedgewood played his second straight game for Rochester as he made 28 saves.
*NOTES — There were 3 changes in the lineup for the game as forward Justin Bailey, who was a -3 on Friday, along with defenseman Taylor Fedun and forward Tyler Randell all were scratched in favor of tough-guy forward Yannick Veilleux, rookie and former RIT center Myles Powell, who was making his pro debut, and defenseman Jack Dougherty. “I didn’t like things from the other night,” said Amerks coach ChrisTaylor said. “We’ve got depth and we’re going to use it. We have to make sure everybody’s accountable.”…The Checkers do not make another regular season trip to Rochester now until the 2019-20 season…The Amerks conclude their 3-game homestand as they welcome North Division and intrastate rival Syracuse Crunch on Wednesday at 7:05 pm.
Videos
Myles Powell’s 1st pro shift this season:
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Rochester Americans rookie, and former RIT center Myles Powell (18), takes his first shift this season during the first period Saturday night (10/6/2018) against the Charlotte Checkers. Unfortunately, the play ended with the Checkers first goal of the game, but about 7 minutes later Powell was on the ice when his linemate Eric Cornel (20) scored to tie the game 1-1 at the Blue Cross Arena before 3,076 fans. Charlotte won the game, 4-2.
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