A resurgent Rockford IceHogs hockey team scored two third-period goals to tie the Charlotte Checkers in regulation but the Checkers prevailed in a 4-3 shootout win Thursday night at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Forwards Drayson Bowman, Chris Terry and Matthew Pistilli scored shootout goals against IceHogs goaltender Carter Hutton as the Checkers (26-15-2-2) maintained their hold on first place in the Midwest Division and posted their 26th victory of the season.

Checkers center Riley Nash scored two regulation goals and rookie goalie John Muse won his fifth game against no losses before an announced crowd of 4,916.

"They're a tough team and playing real well right now," Checkers coach Jeff Daniels said of Rockford, which won four straight games going into Thursday's matchup. "It was a hard-fought win."

Nash's two goals came on power plays in the first and second period; a third power play goal was scored by center Zac Dalpe, assigned from the parent Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.

"It's been really clicking lately," Nash said of the power plays. "(We're) moving the puck really well. We're getting the puck back, especially when we're dumping pucks (into the opponent's offensive zone), we're working hard to get it back. When we get a chance to shoot, we're shooting it. The guys in front of the net find a way to get it in right now."

With a 1-0 lead, the Checkers picked up two more goals in the second period. Nash got his second of the game, and sixth of the season, on a pass from Terry.

The third goal was set up by center Zach Boychuk, who broke down the left side and dropped the puck to Dalpe.

Rockford center Peter LeBlanc scored second- and third-period goals, then center Brandon Pirri sent the game into overtime, smoking a shot past Muse with 1:30 left in regulation.

Race Night: NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers David Ragan and Geoff Bodine, along with 22 other drivers, will appear tonight when the Checkers again play Rockford at the sixth annual Race Night presented by Hyundai. The drivers will sign autographs from 6-6:45 p.m. In addition, Hyundai is offering a 2012 Santa Fe to the fan who can throw a styrofoam puck into a box fixed on the top of the car during the second intermission.

CHARLOTTE 4, ROCKFORD 3

1st Period-1, Charlotte, Nash 5 (Bowman, Sanguinetti), 5:46 (PP). Penalties-Morin Rfd (slashing), 5:02; served by Pistilli Cha (bench minor - too many men), 9:53; Segal Rfd (fighting), 17:48; Bellemore Cha (instigating, fighting, misconduct - instigating), 17:48.

2nd Period-2, Charlotte, Nash 6 (Terry, Bowman), 2:59 (PP). 3, Charlotte, Dalpe 10 (Boychuk, Jordan), 8:51 (PP). 4, Rockford, LeBlanc 12 (Olesz, Smith), 18:59. Penalties-Lavin Rfd (cross-checking), 1:54; Krueger Cha (tripping), 6:06; LeBlanc Rfd (unsportsmanlike conduct), 6:52; Bowman Cha (high-sticking), 12:04.

3rd Period-5, Rockford, LeBlanc 13 7:32. 6, Rockford, Pirri 19 (Segal, Stanton), 18:30. Penalties-No Penalties

OT Period- No Scoring. Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout - Rockford 2 (Bollig G, Pirri NG, LeBlanc NG, Olesz G, Segal NG), Charlotte 3 (Bowman G, Terry G, Dalpe NG, Pistilli G, Nash NG).

Shots on Goal-Rockford 8-16-7-1-0-32. Charlotte 5-11-11-2-1-30.

Goalies-Rockford, Hutton 9-5-2 (29 shots-26 saves). Charlotte, Muse 5-0-0 (32 shots-29 saves).

A-4,916