Charlotte’s offense erupted with four first-period goals, taking a 4-2 lead over the Phantoms after the game’s opening stanza. Mikulas Hovorka, Nolan Foote, Trevor Carrick and Brett Chorske lit the lamp for the Checkers, while Christian Kyrou and Anthony Richard scored for Lehigh Valley. Jack Devine provided an assist on Chorske’s goal as his personal point streak extended to six games.
Carson Bjarnason (one save on four shots) started the game in net for Lehigh Valley, but was pulled at 11:50, sending Yaniv Perets into action.
Robert Mastrosimone scored in the second period; his seventh goal of the season was sandwiched by Karsen Dorwart’s two goals for the Phantoms, which cut Charlotte’s lead to 5-4 after 40 minutes. Mastrosimone, who assisted on Carrick’s first-period goal, has eight points in his last five games and a five-game point streak.
In the third period, Mike Benning scored his sixth goal of the season at 8:32 to make it 6-4 in favor of the visitors. Alexi Gendron made it a one-score game for the Phantoms at 14:56, but Devine and Noah Gregor added empty-net goals in the game’s final minutes.
Charlotte went 0-for-2 on the power play and 1-for-3 on the penalty kill. Louis Domingue recorded his third victory of the season with 20 saves.
