The Charlotte Checkers avoided a dreaded 2-0 hole in the Calder Cup finals with an overtime win on Sunday.
Michael Benning proved to be the hero with a power-play goal just over four minutes into extra time to help the Checkers claim a 3-2 Game 2 win over the Abbotsford Canucks on Sunday.
The series is now tied 1-1.
Benning fired the winner home from the point, beating Canucks goalie Artus Silovs glove-side.
Charlotte controlled the action throughout the game, outshooting the Canucks 42-13 in the contest, but Silovs was excellent in net, keeping Abbotsford afloat behind the Checkers' aggressive attack.
The teams traded goals multiple times in the first period, with John Leonard opening the scoring just over three minutes into the game for Charlotte. That Checkers lead didn't stand for long, however, as Sammy Blais responded for Abbotsford just over one minute later.
Wilmer Skoog and Linus Karlsson traded power-play markers later in the opening 20 minutes. Karlsson's levelling goal was his 10th of the post-season and came after some slick passing by the Canucks' power play.
After a scoreless second period, the game continued at a standstill until Benning's winner.
While he didn't face an onslaught of shots like Silvos, Kaapo Kähkönen held down Charlotte's net with 11 saves to backstop his team to the series-tying win.
These Calder Cup Finals have been tight through two games. Game 1 came to a controversial finish in overtime, as the Checkers had a goal overturned in the extra frame before Abbotsford took the series-opening win behind double-OT heroics from Danila Klimovich.
The series now shifts to Abbotsford for Games 3 - 5. Game 3 goes Tuesday at 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET.
COMMENTS
When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.