SPORTS

AHL Playoffs: Charlotte edges Providence, 5-4, in opener

Journal Staff

PROVIDENCE — Bobby Sanguinetti's goal at 7:06 of the third period broke a 4-4 tie and sent the Charlotte Checkers to a 5-4 victory over the Providence Bruins in a back-and-forth opening game of their Atlantic Division semifinal series on Saturday night at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

Charlotte came out of the gates flying, scoring a pair of goals in the opening 3:49 of the game. Morgan Geekie's backhand from in close accounted for the first tally just 1:26 into the first period. He got his second as he and Andrew Poturalski combined on a 2-on-1 break, beating Providence's Zane McIntyre for a 2-0 lead.

Providence answered quickly with a goal at 6:45 thanks to good forechecking from Anton Blidh. He fought for the puck in the corner and fed Jordan Szwarz in the high slot for a one-timer. His shot beat Alex Nedeljkovic and it was 2-1. A great individual effort from Cooper Zech tied the game at 9:31 while on the power play. His wrister trickled in for the first goal of his professional score and it was 2-2. Just 40 seconds later, Blidh gave the P-Bruins the lead on a snap shot from between the hashes. Trent Frederic had the lone assist.

The Checkers' Tomas Jurco tied the score once again 6:53 into the second period, capitalizing on the man-advantage. Charlotte was able to regain the lead with 3:27 left in the second. Nicolas Roy led Julien Gauthier into the zone with a pass up the left boards, and Gauthier picked the top corner with a wrister to make it 4-3.

After a Charlotte goal was waved off due to high-sticking, the P-Bruins tied it at 6:44 of the third period. From behind the net, Szwarz sent a centering pass to Paul Carey, who scored from in front. However, just 22 seconds later Sanguinetti put Charlotte in front for good as his pass into traffic sneaked past McIntyre and into the net. The P-Bruins pulled their goalie with more than two minutes left, but the Checkers held on.

The P-Bruins will try to tie the series here on Sunday with a 5 p.m. puck drop.

Charlotte;2;2;1; —;5

Providence;3;0;1; —;4

     First period — 1, Cha, Geekie 1 (Schilkey, Poturalski), 1:26. 2, Cha, Geekie 2 (Poturalski, Schilkey), 3:49. 3, Pro, Szwarz 1 (Blidh), 6:45. 4, Pro, Zech 1 (McIntyre), 9:31 (pp). 5, Pro, Blidh 1 (Frederic), 10:11. Penalties — Mattheos Cha (slashing), 7:48; Szwarz Pro (elbowing), 11:07; Bean Cha (interference), 16:38; Bishop Cha (cross — checking), 20:00; Renouf Cha (fighting), 20:00; Breen Pro (fighting), 20:00.

     Second period — 6, Cha, Jurco 1 (Necas, Bean), 6:53 (pp). 7, Cha, Gauthier 1 (Roy, Robertson), 16:34. Penalties — Studnicka Pro (slashing), 5:37; Carrick Cha (hooking), 7:58; Vaakanainen Pro (holding), 10:01; Jurco Cha (roughing), 10:31; Blidh Pro (cross — checking), 10:31.

     Third period — 8, Pro, Carey 1 (Szwarz, Cumiskey), 6:44. 9, Cha, Sanguinetti 1 (Roy), 7:06. Penalties — Lauzon Pro (hooking), 9:47; Pritchard Cha (tripping), 11:18; Breen Pro (elbowing), 15:23.

     Shots on Goal — Cha 11-10-6 — 27; Pro 11-6-10 — 27. Power plays — Cha 1-5; Pro 1-5. Goalies — Cha, Nedeljkovic 1-0 (27 shots-23 saves). Pro, McIntyre 0-1 (27 shots-22 saves).

     A — 5,104

     Referees — Brandon Blandina (39), Conor O'Donnell (41). Linesmen — James Tobias (61), Dmitrii Antipin (77).