MINNEAPOLIS In front of the largest crowd ever to see a Checkers home game, Charlotte couldn't do its part to send its fans home happy on Friday night.

The Checkers failed to hold a two-goal lead and fell to the Rockford IceHogs 3-2 in front of 13,021 fans at Time Warner Cable Arena. Peter LeBlanc scored twice for the IceHogs (19-21-1-4), and Charlotte defensemen Bobby Sanguinetti and Rasmus Rissanen scored for the Checkers.

Rockford's Rostilav Olesz scored the winning goal with eight minutes left in the third period, handing Charlotte rookie goalie John Muse his first loss of the season after starting at 5-0-0.

No one in the Charlotte locker room used fatigue as an excuse, but a grueling five games in an eight-day stretch, (including two games in British Columbia) was a factor in the Checkers' (26-16-2-2) inability to sweep the two-game series against the IceHogs.

This month, Rockford is 4-0-1 when trailing entering the third period.

Several of the Checkers players said the huge crowd gave them an extra boost.

"It was awesome and a great atmosphere," said Sanguinetti. "I even looked at (Brent) Sutter on the bench and said it felt like an NHL game. It was unbelievable, but I just wish it was a better outcome for" the fans.

The Checkers got off to a 1-0 first-period lead thanks to outstanding special-teams play. Charlotte got two back-to-back minors. which gave Rockford a two-man advantage for 1 minute, 21 seconds. But the Checkers penalty-killing team was superb and held the IceHogs scoreless.

Just three minutes after the Checkers killed off the lengthy two-man advantage, Charlotte scored on a power play of its own. After some crisp passing, Sanguinetti rifled a shot from the right-wing circle past Rockford goalie Alec Richards.

The Checkers can rest up now as they don't return to action until next Friday when they travel to Oklahoma City.

Notes

The Checkers announced their Friday, April 6 home game at Time Warner Cable Arena has been moved to Saturday, April 7 with faceoff at noon. The Charlotte Bobcats will play a home game against the Atlanta Hawks that night, making it the first time the two teams will play home games on the same date. ... Charlotte's Zac Dalpe was knocked to the ice early in the second period and didn't return.

First Period: 1, Charlotte, Sanguinetti 4 (Terry, Bowman), 13:15 (pp). Penalties: Dalpe, Cha (tripping), 8:37; Sutter, Cha (hooking), 8:58.; Paradis, Rck (slashing), 12:02.

Second Period: 2, Charlotte, Rissanen 2 (Soryal, Nash), 9:59. 3, Rockford, LeBlanc (Pirri, Lavin), 11:00 (pp). Penalties: Youds, Rck (boarding major), 0:58; Youds, Rck (fighting major), 0:58; Bowman, Cha (instigating), 0:58; Bowman, Cha (major fighting), 0:58; Bowman, (misconduct - instigating), 0:58; Terry, Cha (cross-checking), 10:10.

Third Period: 4, Rockford, LeBlanc 15 (Pirri, Lavin), 9:10. 5.) Rockford, Olsen 3 (Olesz), 11:47. Penalties: Bellemore, Cha (delay of game), 1:50; DiDomenico, Rck (elbowing), 17:08

Shots: Rockford 11-9-10-30. Charlotte 11-8-6-25. Goalies: Rockford, Richards (7-11-2) (25 shots-23 saves) Charlotte, Muse (5-1-0) (30-27) Att.-13,021 (at Charlotte)