TOLEDO, OH -- The Charlotte Checkers fell behind on three power-play goals in the first period and were not able to bounce back as they were defeated, 6-3, by the Toledo Walleye on Sunday evening.
Kenny Roche notched a goal and an assist while Ryan Munce stopped 29 shots in a losing cause for the Checkers. The Walleye scored five special-teams goals – four on the power play and one by way of a penalty shot that was called with the man-advantage.
With the loss, the Checkers were held without a point on their three-game road trip after heading up north on a three-game win streak.
Toledo got on the board first, on the power play, just over four minutes into the game as Bryan Ewing grabbed the puck at the point, skated into the slot and beat Munce between the legs for his eighth of the year.
The Walleye then added two more with the man-advantage before the period would end. Derek Nesbitt made a cross-ice pass to David Phillips who redirected it past Munce before Evan Rankin skated toward the net and tipped home an Adam Hobson pass with one second to play.
Toledo then added another, just over six minutes into the second, before the Checkers replied with two of their own. Aaron Slattengren tipped a Steve Ward point shot home for his fourth of the season before Codey Burki buried a Jean-Philipp Chabot rebound just 16 seconds later to cut the Walleye lead to two.
The Checkers would fall behind by three again when J.C. Sawyer blasted a point shot past Munce on the power play with just over two minutes to play in the second. The goal was Sawyer’s 16th of the season which leads all ECHL defensemen.
Things did not get any easier from there as Toledo, working on the power play again, were awarded a penalty shot. Maxime Tanguay made no mistake as he stopped at the net, deked Munce and slid home his 13th of the season.
Midway through the third, Kenny Roche cut the Walleye lead to three as he forced a turnover in the slot and buried a shot past Thomas McCollum for his 15th of the year. The goal put Roche in a tie with Andrew Carroll for the team lead, however, it wasn’t enough and Toledo walked away with the 6-3 victory.
The Checkers (18-13-4-0) will return home to host the Gwinnett Gladiators on Wednesday. Game time is 7 p.m. and ticket information can be obtained by calling 704-342-4-ICE or visiting www.gocheckers.com.
