NET PROFIT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Grand Rapids Griffins’ offense struck early and often, scoring four times in the opening period in a 6-1 rout of the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday at Bojangles’ Coliseum.

Three-point performances from Martin Frk (2-1–3) and Matt Lorito (0-3–3) led the way as the Griffins earned points for the 10th time in their last 11 contests (7-1-1-2). Jared Coreau blocked 23-of-24 shots for his 56th win in a Grand Rapids uniform, passing Mike Fountain for fourth in franchise history. The result keeps the Checkers in seventh place in the Central Division standings having dropped 12 of their last 16 (4-10-2-0).

The Griffins (16-7-1-2) found the net with their first shot on goal 1:33 into the hockey game when Frk took Nick Jensen’s short pass at the top of the left circle and whistled a slap shot low to Daniel Altshuller’s stick side to snap a six-game pointless streak.

Frk added another marker just past the halfway point of the first. After Lorito gained the zone and drove the right side of the net, he centered the puck to Frk in front for a shot inside the left post and his 10th goal of the campaign.

Dominic Turgeon gave the visitors a commanding 3-0 lead at the 13:21 mark. Nathan Paetsch’s initial effort from the left point was deflected in front by Mike Borkowski and turned away by Altshuller, but the rebound reached Turgeon at the left circle for a tap-in. The goal prompted the Checkers to replace Altshuller with Alex Nedeljkovic.

Charlotte (11-14-2-0) responded 23 seconds later when Sergey Tolchinsky sent a pass out of the left corner to Valentin Zykov at the left circle for a wrist shot past the catching glove of Coreau.

Louis-Marc Aubry restored the Griffins’ three-goal cushion shorthanded with 3:29 remaining in the opening frame. Surrounded by four Charlotte skaters, Jensen dropped the puck to Aubry in the high slot for a wrist shot off the right post and in.

Grand Rapids carried the play into the middle period with Tomas Nosek adding a fifth tally on the power play at the 10:09 mark. Lorito’s diagonal feed from the top of the left circle reached Nosek down low at the right circle for a one-timer past a sliding Nedeljkovic.

Charlotte had a golden opportunity to cut into the Griffins’ lead in the third but failed to take advantage of a brief 5-on-3 following back-to-back penalties to Eric Tangradi and Conor Allen. Dylan Sadowy wrapped up the scoring when he took the puck off Nedeljkovic’s stick behind the Charlotte net and converted on a wraparound attempt with 8:27 on the clock for his third goal in four games.

Grand Rapids finished 1-for-2 on the man advantage while the penalty kill went a perfect 4-for-4. Altshuller stopped 6-of-9 shots in defeat before Nedeljkovic turned aside 17-of-20 in relief.

The Griffins conclude their four-game road trip on Sunday with a rematch against the Checkers. Puck drop from Bojangles’ Coliseum is set for 1 p.m.

Notes: Aubry logged his 100th professional point in his 350th pro game…The Griffins have held their opposition to fewer than 10 shots on goal in 11 of their last 14 periods…Grand Rapids has scored a power play goal in seven of its last eight contests away from Van Andel Arena, going 10-for-34 (29.4%) during that stretch.

Three Stars: 1. GR Frk (two goals, assist); 2. GR Lorito (three assists); 3. GR Jensen (two assists)