The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins found a way to solve the puzzle known as the Charlotte Checkers.
The Penguins scored four straight goals as five players hit the back of the net for the 5-1 win over Charlotte on Friday night at the Bojangles Coliseum.
The victory snapped a three-game losing skid against the Checkers — losing all three games against the team in December. The season series is tied at 3-3 as the two teams will run it back Saturday night in Charlotte. The win also snapped a three-game losing streak, and was the team’s first win of the year.
WBS and Providence remain in a first-place tie in the Atlantic with 49 points. Lehigh Valley is third with 40 points, and Charlotte is fourth with 38.
It was an offensive night for the Pens, outshooting the Checkers, 32-22, and scoring five times.
Tristan Broz’s first-half goal gave WBS a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes, and Bokondji Imama found the net not even three minutes into the second period for the two-goal edge.
Third-period goals by Gabe Klassen and Valtteri Puustinen gave WBS a 4-0 lead before Atley Calvert’s eighth goal of the season capped the scoring.
Sergei Murashov got the start in goal, stopping 21 of 22 shots he faced.