The Checkers erased a two-goal deficit in the third before Gracyn Sawchyn’s power-play goal lifted Charlotte to a 5-4 overtime win in Iowa.
Iowa opened with a 2-0 lead in the first on goals from Caedan Bankier at 6:02 and Dylan Gambrell at 8:20, who scored shorthanded, both of their first goals of the season. Mitch Vande Sompel answered with his first goal of the season, getting Charlotte on the board at 12:19, with assists from Donovan Sebrango and Angus Crookshank.
Justin Kirkland restored Iowa’s two-goal lead just 34 seconds into the second, prompting a goalie change for Charlotte as Tyler Muszelik replaced Kirill Gerasimyuk. Alex Petrovic brought the Checkers within one at 9:46 with his first goal as a Checker, assisted by Robert Mastrosimone, but Bradley Marek’s converted on the power play at 14:05 to send the Wild back into the third with a 4-2 lead.
Charlotte outshot Iowa 15-4 in the third and kept pressing for a way back into the game. Jack Devine pulled Charlotte within one at 13:27 of the third, assisted by Crookshank. Then with 49 seconds remaining, Nate Smith buried the tying goal off a setup, finishing a play from Mastrosimone and Gracyn Sawchyn, tying the score 4-4.
After the Checkers couldn’t convert on an earlier power play in overtime, Iowa’s Hunter Haight was called for tripping at 2:52. Charlotte needed just 21 seconds to capitalize. Sawchyn converted on the power play at 3:13 to complete Charlotte's comeback. Mastrosimone and Petrovic assisted on the winner.
Riley Mercer stopped 35 of Charlotte’s 40 shots. Kirill Gerasimyuk and Tyler Muszelik combined for 16 saves on 20 shots for the Checkers.
