The Charlotte Checkers stunned Milwaukee with three first-period goals, including two in the first three minutes, and defeated the Admirals 5-1 Sunday at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Charlotte (13-6-1-1) swept the two-game weekend series with Milwaukee (10-6-0-1), while winning its fourth straight.

Matt Pistilli had a pair of goals and an assist for Charlotte, while Justin Shugg, Chris Terry, and Drayson Bowman each had a goal and a helper for the Checkers.

Charlotte goalie Justin Peters won his third in a row, finishing with 31 saves. He yielded only one goal, as Milwaukee spoiled his shutout in the final minute of the contest.

Peters shone early in the second period, making big saves on numerous point-blank shots.

"After the way the first period ended up, we knew they were going to come out strong," said Peters. "For us to be able to weather that storm early on, and they also had a power play there, we did a good job."

Pistilli scored just two minutes, seven seconds into the game when he picked up an errant Milwaukee pass deep in the Admirals zone and one-timed a shot by starting goalie Atte Engren. The Checkers made it 2-0 a little over a minute later on Shugg's shot from the far wall that was misplayed by Engren.

Milwaukee coach Kirk Muller then pulled Engren and replaced him with Jeremy Smith. Pistilli scored his second goal of the game 12 minutes, 26 seconds into the game for a 3-0 Charlotte lead, and the rout had begun.

How did Charlotte's effort Sunday compare to that of the last couple of games?

"Night and day," said Checkers coach Jeff Daniels. "Especially in that first period. We came out and played with a purpose, played with passion and a lot more involved physically."

The Checkers will continue their six-game homestand Wednesday when the Texas Stars come to Charlotte for a 7 p.m. faceoff.

First Period: 1.) Charlotte, Pistilli 4 (Rissanen), 2:07. 2.) Charlotte, Shugg 1 (unassisted), 3:23.

3.) Charlotte, Pistilli 5 ( Matsumoto, Bowman), 12:26. Penalties: Thang, Mil (interference); 15:55; Rissanen, Cha (tripping), 18:04.

Second Period: 4.) Charlotte, Terry 4 (Dalpe, Shugg), 8:38. Penalties: Valentine, Mil (slashing), 4:33; Bowman, Cha (hooking), 9:04; Valentine, Cha (holding), 16:19; Blanchard, Cha (elbowing), 18:48.

Third Period: 5.) Charlotte, Bowman 6 (Pistilli, Terry), 15:12 (PP). 6.) Milwaukee, Bourque 1 (Thang, Mueller), 19:04.

Penalties: Smith, Mil (tripping), 2:14; Jordan, Cha (cross-checking), 6:41; Flynn, Mil (cross-checking), 13:29. Shots: Milwaukee 6-12-14=32. Charlotte 17-9-3=29. Goalies: Milwaukee, Engren (1-2-0-0) (2 shots - 0 saves) Smith (27-24); Charlotte, Peters (6-2-1-0) (32-31) Attendance 3,998 (at Charlotte)