Daccord for the (Checkers) Win

Monday proved a close-out win and big night for Kraken developing pros as the American Hockey League affiliate Charlotte Checkers advanced to the third round of the Calder Cup playoffs.
Goaltender Joey Daccord posted a shutout and forward Max McCormick opened the scoring a minute into the game and finished off the Atlantic Division foe Bridgeport (CT) Islanders with a late empty-net goal to make it a 4-0 final that clinched the best-of-five series in four games.

After sweeping two road games in Bridgeport to start the series, Charlotte lost a tightly-checked game over the weekend to push the series. The defeat was the first at home for Checkers since mid-February.
Charlotte coach Geordie Kinnear didn't stray from starting Daccord in net for the fourth straight game. Daccord ranked second in save percentage among all AHL goalies during the regular season, ahead of notable goalie prospects including Dustin Wolf (former Everett Silvertips star), Stuart Skinner (faced Kraken with Edmonton Oilers), Logan Thompson (played well down regular-season stretch at Vegas) and Connor Ingram (formidable fill-in for Nashville during first round against Colorado with all-star starter Juuse Saros injured).

Plus, Daccord dueled veteran Cory Schneider (410 NHL games) during the just-completed series. The first three games of the series were one-goal games and Game 4 was effectively a 2-0 victory before McCormick's two late scores added up to a hat trick and final margin that was a bit deceiving.
Daccord did not disappoint, making 21 saves and protecting the early lead against a team with NHL forwards such as former Kraken waiver pickup Austin Czarnik (blanked Monday after notching three goals and seven assists in his first five postseason games) and promising high-round New York Islanders draft choices Simon Holmstrom (first round, 2019) and Aatu Raty (second round, 2021).
True to form, Daccord credited the squad in front of him, including fellow Kraken stalwarts and defensemen Connor Carrick (four assists in the series), Cale Fleury (three assists in series) and Gustav Olofsson (assist on McCormick's game-winning goal), who all delivered on both ends of the ice for Charlotte.
"We just did such a good job in the D-zone of limiting their chances,' said Daccord to CharlotteCheckers.com reporter Nicholas Niedzielski. "We must have set a record for blocked shots tonight. I felt like everything was getting blocked on the way in. Shoutout to our D and our forwards. It felt like the whole game I was yelling, 'Nice block.'

"We're excited. We have high expectations for ourselves. We're really happy to get through this one. That's a really tough team over there and they're tough to put away."
McCormick credited Daccord's work, especially on the penalty kill: "He gives us a lot of confidence back there. He was huge on the PK tonight and gave us some big saves in big moments."
Kraken developing pro Alexander True supplied the primary assist on McCormick's early strike. True scored two goals and added two assists in the series win. Kinnear has kept the two forwards together a good part of the season for the type of early-game production they provided Monday, this time the goal coming off McCormick's stick blade.
"Maxy has been a driver all year long, so for him to get [the first goal} I'm not surprised," said Kinnear. "He's been an unreal competitor and an unreal player for us and a great teammate. Obviously, his work was rewarded tonight."
Charlotte now faces rival Springfield (MA) in the Atlantic Division final. Springfield was second to Charlotte in the regular-season standings and will no doubt provide more postseason experience and lessons for Kraken developing pros. The best-of-five series begins Sunday and Wednesday before moving to Charlotte for Game 3 May 28 and Game 4 (May 29) and Game 5 (May 31) if necessary.