Barons Cruise Past Checkers

Ryan Hamilton scored two goals and Dillon Simpson and Iiro Pakarinen each had two assists as the Oklahoma City Barons defeated the Charlotte Checkers 4-2 Wednesday night at the Cox Convention Center.

Hamilton's first goal broke a 1-1 tie at 14:25 of the second period. With Charlotte goalie John Muse trying to locate a loose puck in a congested Checkers crease, Hamilton was able to push the puck through the pads of Muse to give Oklahoma City a 2-1 lead.

At 1:18 of the third period, Pakarinen corralled the puck in the corner of the Charlotte zone and sent a backhand centering pass that Hamilton was able to chip past Muse from right in front of the Checkers net.

The win was the Barons' fifth straight at home and improved Gerry Fleming's record to 6-1 since being named head coach on Dec. 16.

Anton Lander gave the Barons an early 1-0 lead at the 1:28 mark of the first period, following a shot by Simpson that was knocked down by Muse, but remained in the Checkers crease. Lander tipped the loose puck past Muse to extend his current point streak to seven games. The goal was Lander's ninth of the season, his first at home.

After failing to record a single shot on goal for the first seven-plus minute of the second period, Charlotte tied the game on their second shot of the frame at the 8:01 mark when Dennis Robertson put a shot past Oklahoma City goalie Laurent Brossoit.

Following Hamilton's two goals, Andrew Miller extended Oklahoma City's lead to 4-1 when he took a pass from Matt Ford near the Charlotte blue line and skated toward Muse before deking to his backhand and depositing the puck into the back of the Checkers net.

Charlotte cut the Barons' lead to 4-2 at 18:00 of the third period when Justin Shugg grabbed the rebound of a Robertson shot from the point and flipped the puck over a sprawling Brossoit.

The win was Brossoit's fifth consecutive, improving his record to 11-4 on the season. Brossoit is also 11-1 in his last 12 decisions.

Oklahoma City's next game is Friday, Jan. 2, when they travel to Cleveland for the first of a two game series against the Lake Eerie Monsters. Faceoff is at 6:30 p.m. CST.