CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Checkers (3-1-0) won a shootout thriller, 6-5, in Gwinnett on Friday Night. Michel Leveille led the way offensively with three points in a high-scoring game that saw goals on the first four shots of the contest.
The Gladiators took an early two-goal lead, just three minutes into the game, on even-strength goals by Matt Caruana and Chad Denny. Caruana took a pass from Tom Zanoski on a Checkers turnover and converted for his fifth goal of the early season. Denny took advantage of another turnover and tapped in a pass from Pat Galivan for the early 2-0 lead.
Charlotte would answer back with two quick goals to knot the score at 2-2. Julien Brouilette skated in alone on Gladiators goaltender Danny Taylor and beat him with a wrist shot over the blocker. Michel Leveille then beat Taylor with a one-time shot on a pass from Derek Couture that deflected off the post and in.
The Checkers took the lead midway through the first period as rookie defenseman Mike Berube scored on a screened point shot that seemed to fool Gwinnett netminder Danny Taylor.
With less than three minutes to play in the first frame, Gwinnett defenseman Drew Paris fired a shot off the end boards that took a strange bounce and found its way into the net, notching the score at 3-3.
Charlotte then regained the lead, nine minutes into the second period, on a power-play goal by team captain Jared Nigthingale. Nightingale blasted a shot from the high slot between the legs of Taylor for his first of the season. The goal came at the 9:02 mark of the second period and was assisted by Kenny Roche and Jason Lawrence.
The Checkers would mount a two-goal lead, just 42 seconds later, as rookie Andrew Carroll skated into the zone on the left wing and let a shot go that trickled in for his first of the season.
The two-goal lead wouldn’t last long. Gwinnett forward Tom Zanoski took a pass on a 3-on-1 and beat Zaba glove-side for his fourth of the season.
Charlotte carried a 20-17 shot advantage, and 5-4 lead, through two periods of play.
Gwinnett would tie the game on the power play when Drew Paris scored on a point shot for his second of the game. The goal came at 8:43 of the third period and was assisted by Sam Roberts and Brad Schell.
The game would remain tied and went to a shootout after a scoreless overtime. Charlotte forwards Kenny Roche, Michel Leveille and Tyler Doig all lit the lamp to take a 3-0 advantage and Matt Zaba shut the door as the Checkers sealed the 6-5 shootout win.
Zaba stopped 21 of 26 shots to earn the win for the Checkers while Danny Taylor made 31 saves in a losing cause for the Gladiators. Leveille now has nine points in four games out of the gate to lead the Checkers.
