After a scoreless first period, the Checkers got on the board early in the second with a goal from forward Patrick Giles and did not look back. Riding that momentum, the Checkers then piled it as Riley Nash, Dominic Franco, Henry Bowlby, Cameron Morrison all scored to bring the lead to a commanding 5-0.
In the third period, Connor Bunnaman added one more goal for good measure to make it 6-0. Finnish natives Aleksi Heponiemi and Santtu Kinnunen led the way with three points each in the win, while recent addition and Panthers 2021 first-round pick Mackie Samoskevich recorded an assist.
On Thursday, facing elimination, the Checkers battled in a double overtime game that looked like it could reach a third until defenseman Lucas Carlsson buried the game winner with just over a minute left on the clock to lock in the 5-4 win and force the decisive Game 3.
Through three Calder Cup Playoff games, Bunnaman (2 goals, 3 assists) and Heponiemi (5 assists) lead the Checkers in scoring.
Starting Friday, April 28, the Checkers will take on the Hershey Bears in a best-of-5 series. Hershey will make its 2023 Calder Cup Playoff debut after being rewarded a first-round bye for their second-place finish in the Eastern Conference.
For more information, visit
CharlotteCheckers.com
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Photo courtesy of the Charlotte Checkers
