Joseph LaBate and James Malatesta lit the lamp for the Monsters, but the Checkers built a four-goal lead after two en route to a 5-2 win in Charlotte on Oct. 18. Justin Pearson had an assist on LaBate’s first-period tally, and Dylan Gambrell and Owen Sillinger logged helpers on Malatesta’s goal in the third. The Monsters remain in Charlotte for the back end of a home-and-home with the Checkers at 6 p.m. Oct. 19.