Checkers outrun Bears in Game 2

Photo: Jacob Kupferman

Without its top scorer in the lineup, Charlotte erupted for a 7-3 win over Hershey in Game 2 of the Atlantic Division Finals on Saturday night.

The Checkers will bring a 2-0 series lead up to Chocolatetown, where the series will resume on Tuesday night.

Andrew Poturalski, who had 10 points in the Checkers’ first five playoff games and 7-15-22 in his last 12 games overall, missed Game 2 due to injury. But Charlotte got five points from Tomas Jurco (two goals, three assists) and a pair of goals from Martin Necas to earn their fifth win in six outings this postseason.

Zach Nastasiuk, Morgan Geekie and Julien Gauthier also scored for the Checkers in Game 2. Nicolas Roy and Bobby Sanguinetti recorded three assists each.

Alex Nedeljkovic, back in the Checkers crease after a stint with the parent Carolina Hurricanes, made 24 saves in the win.

Jayson Megna, Ryan Sproul and Riley Barber scored for the Bears, who allowed seven goals in a playoff game for the first time since Apr. 21, 2012 (at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton).

Ilya Samsonov stopped 26 shots for Hershey.

Atlantic Division Finals – Series “I” (best-of-7)
A1-Charlotte Checkers vs. A3-Hershey Bears
Game 1 – Fri., May 3 – CHARLOTTE 4, Hershey 1 | Recap
Game 2 – Sat., May 4 – CHARLOTTE 7, Hershey 3
Game 3 – Tue., May 7 – Charlotte at Hershey, 7:00
Game 4 – Wed., May 8 – Charlotte at Hershey, 7:00
*Game 5 – Fri., May 10 – Charlotte at Hershey, 7:00
*Game 6 – Sun., May 12 – Hershey at Charlotte, 5:00
*Game 7 – Tue., May 14 – Hershey at Charlotte, 7:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern