After looking as though they were headed for a shutout for 50 minutes, the Charlotte Checkers collapsed in the final stretch Friday night as the Houston Aeros clipped the Checkers, 3-2, in an American Hockey League game at Time Warner Cable Arena.

A dramatic finish by the Aeros resulted in three goals in nine minutes and 59 seconds, including the game winner by center Jeff Taffe with four seconds to go.

The last two Houston goals were scored on goalie Mike Murphy, who replaced starting goalie Justin Peters with 9:59 left in the game. Peters left the ice with the help of defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti and a team staffer.

Peters hurt himself going for a puck as Aeros center Casey Wellman picked up a rebound and fired it into the net, cutting the Checkers' lead to 2-1.

Eight seconds later, Houston tied the game at 2-2 when center David McIntyre flipped in the puck to Murphy's right.

"Lack of focus. Lack of desperation," said Checkers coach Jeff Daniels of his team's third-period letdown. "I'm hoping the guys are upset and want to come back out tomorrow with something to prove."

"They came at us hard in the third period. I think we kind of beat ourselves tonight," Zach Boychuk, who scored the Checkers' only goals, said.

The Checkers' first goal came on a five-on-three in the first period. Center Zach Boychuk whistled the puck past Hackettto make it 1-0.

Boychuk scored his second goal with a man advantage. The play started when Peters cleared the puck to left wing Chris Terry. Terry passed the puck forward to Boychuk, who broke down the left side.

The speedy center got behind an Aeros defenseman, skated in front of goalie Matt Hackett, went to his backhand and shoveled the puck into an open corner of the net for a 2-0 lead.

The two teams play again at 7 p.m. today at Time Warner Cable Arena.

First Period-1, Charlotte, Boychuk 3 (Samson, Faulk), 9:28 (PP). Penalties-McIntyre Hou (slashing), 7:32; Bagnall Hou (elbowing), 8:44; Roy Cha (roughing), 12:05.

Seconc Period-2, Charlotte, Boychuk 4 (Terry, Peters), 6:28 (PP). Penalties-Hackett Hou (interference), 4:29; Genoway Hou (holding), 6:28; Peters Cha (interference), 7:34; Foucault Hou (high-sticking), 13:52; Peters Hou (slashing), 19:04; Jordan Cha (roughing), 19:04.

Third Period-3, Houston, Wellman 5 (Taffe, Foucault), 10:01 (PP). 4, Houston, McIntyre 3 (Broda, Fontaine), 10:09. 5, Houston, Taffe 1 (Rau, DiSalvatore), 19:56. Penalties-Hendry Hou (boarding), 3:23; Terry Cha (interference), 4:36; Bagnall Hou (fighting), 8:09; Soryal Cha (fighting), 8:09; Roy Cha (elbowing), 8:57.

Shots on Goal-Houston 12-9-17-38. Charlotte 16-11-8-35. Goalies-Houston, Hackett 3-0-1 (35 shots-33 saves). Charlotte, Peters 1-1-0 (27 shots-26 saves); Murphy 1-2-0 (11 shots-9 saves). ATT-4,961