Stars Drop Close Overtime Contest in Charlotte 3-2

Tom Wandell (Credit: Gregg Forwerck/Charlotte Checkers)
It was an anti-climatic ending to the game., The overtime game-winner goal call came off a lengthy video review and put the Checkers past Texas by a 3-2 mark. Charlotte scored first in the game, but Texas got two goals in the second from Mike Hedden and Matt Fraser to go ahead. The Checkers would tie the game in the second and play a scoreless third. Jack Campbell stopped 22 of 25.

The three point game moves Texas to 81 points but Charlotte to 77, leaping past Grand Rapids at 76 for the moment.

The Stars had most of the early chances in the first period, but it was Charlotte getting the first goal. Late in the period, a soft call on Gord Baldwin for tripping led to a Checkers power play. Just five seconds in, David Marshall scored as William Wrenn mishandled the puck off a Francis Wathier faceoff win. The unassisted goal was Marshall's second of the year.

Texas answered back with two in the second period. Matt Fraser collected his 29th of the year as a Charlotte broken stick generated a 3-on-1. Fraser went shot all the way and popped the water bottle on John Muse to knot things at one. Less than two minutes later, Mike Hedden would slip the puck in off a slick backhand pass from Justin Dowling off a turnover from the Checkers.

Charlotte would even things up before the end of the period though as Matt Beca scored his third of the year, the first goal of the night with two assists actually. Turnovers had generated all the previous goals. Texas outshout Charlotte 13-7 in the period.

A frenetic at times third period couldn't decide the contest as three points would be awarded this afternoon. It was Chris Terry ending the contest in overtime for the Checkers. The slow dribbler of a goal went to a lengthy goal review by the referee but was called a good goal by referee Fred Leblanc. The goal was unassisted.

Texas returns home to play San Antonio on Tuesday in a game that will be televised on FOX Sports.

Tonight's lines:
Fraser-Morin-Sceviour
Hedden-Dowling-Chiasson
Petersen-Wandell-Glennie
Wathier-Vause-Cameron

Labrie-Wrenn
Sneep-Baldwin
Fortunus-Sloan

Campbell

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
R. Smith, Roussel, Benn, Oleksiak, Vincour (call up)
Nemeth, Gazdic, Nilstorp (injured)
Fyten, Tousignant (scratch)

Tonight's attendance was 6,517.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas v. Charlotte - March 17 2013

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