Bojangles Game Preview: April 18 at Springfield
April 17, 2025 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
Before the Checkers take the ice this season, we're breaking down everything fans need to know with the Bojangles Game Preview!
The Checkers are wrapping up the regular season this weekend with a visit to the playoff-bound Thunderbirds.
THE MATCHUP
Record/Standings
CLT - 42-22-3-3 (2nd Atlantic)
SPR - 34-30-2-4 (6th Atlantic)
Power Play / Penalty Kill
CLT - 21.8% / 86.3%
SPR - 20.7% / 78.7%
Offense / Defense
CLT - 3.21 GF/Game / 2.61 GA/Game
SPR - 3.09 GF/Game / 3.24 GA/Game
Head-To-Head
3-2-1-0
THE STORYLINES
PLAYOFF BOUND
The Checkers wrapped up a first-round bye this week courtesy of a big win over Hartford and a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton loss. Those two scenarios locked them into a top-two spot in the Atlantic, but a division title remains up for grabs - though it would take several things bouncing Charlotte's way. The Bears need a single standings point to clinch the division, but if they were to drop their last two contests in regulation (home games against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday and Lehigh Valley on Saturday) AND the Checkers earned four points this weekend against the Thunderbirds, the Atlantic would belong to Charlotte.
On the other side, Springfield has locked itself into either the fifth or sixth seed in the Atlantic - jockeying for final positioning with Lehigh Valley.
CHASING HISTORY
John Leonard lit the lamp in Wednesday's win for his 35th goal of the season, which ranks as the second highest in franchise history. The only total ahead of him is Zach Boychuk's 36 from the 2013-14 campaign.
Trevor Carrick is also approaching some records of his own. With 37 assists he is three shy of Bobby Sanguinetti's single-season defenseman record, and with 50 points he is four shy of Lucas Carlsson's single-season defenseman record.
FRESH FACES
Jack Devine is the latest new addition to jump in and contribute for Charlotte. The two-time Hobey Baker finalist made his pro debut on Wednesday and picked up two assists in the first period alone. Devine was one of three skaters in the lineup on Wednesday that have recently joined the team from the collegiate ranks, joining Brett Chorske and Liam McLinskey.
THE MILESTONES
John Leonard is two away from breaking the franchise single-season goals record (Zach Boychuk's 36 in 2013-14)
Trevor Carrick is four away from breaking the franchise single-season assists by a defenseman record (Bobby Sangueintti's 40 in 2011-12)
Trevor Carrick is five away from breaking the franchise single-season points by a defenseman record (Lucas Carlsson's 54 in 2022-23)
Trevor Carrick is two shy of 100 pro goals
Kyle Criscuolo is one shy of 500 AHL games
John Leonard is one shy of 100 pro assists
Ken Appleby is one shy of 300 pro games
THE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Charlotte
Trevor Carrick - Eight points (3g, 5a) in six games this season against Springfield
Oliver Okuliar - 11 points (5g, 6a) in last 11 games
Ben Steeves - 6 points (1g, 5a) in last five games
Springfield
Matthew Peca - Six points (4g, 2a) in six games this season against the Checkers
Calen Addison - Two points (2g, 0a) in last three games
Hugh McGing - Four points (2g, 2a) in last eight games
THE INFO
This weekend's games - along with every game this season - are available via the new AHLTV on FloHockey!
American Hockey League Stories from April 17, 2025
- Blue Jackets Loan Jet Greaves, Denton Mateychuk to Monsters - Cleveland Monsters
- Bojangles Game Preview: April 18 at Springfield - Charlotte Checkers
- Anaheim Ducks Reassign Colangelo and Nesterenko to San Diego - San Diego Gulls
- Andrew Poturalski Named to 2024-25 AHL First All-Star Team - San Jose Barracuda
- Amerks Unveil Guaranteed Home Dates for 2025-26 Season - Rochester Americans
- Bears Loan Andrew Perrott to South Carolina - Hershey Bears
- MacDonald Named AHL First-Team All-Star - Colorado Eagles
- Derrick Pouliot Named to 2024-25 AHL First All-Star Team - Syracuse Crunch
- John Leonard and Trevor Carrick Named to AHL Second All-Star Team - Charlotte Checkers
- LA Kings Recall Taylor Ward - Ontario Reign
- Leonard and Carrick Named to 2024-25 AHL Second All-Star Team - Charlotte Checkers
- Alex Steeves Named to the 2024-25 AHL Second All-Star Team - Toronto Marlies
- Griffith Named to AHL Second All-Star Team - Bakersfield Condors
- Murray Named to AHL's Second All-Star Team - Milwaukee Admirals
- Matěj Blümel Selected to the AHL First All-Star Team - Texas Stars
- Ethan Bear Named to 2024-25 AHL Second All-Star Team - Hershey Bears
- Michael DiPietro Selected to 2024-25 AHL First All-Star Team - Providence Bruins
- 2024-25 American Hockey League First and Second All-Star Teams Unveiled - AHL
- T-Birds Captain Matthew Peca Named to AHL First All-Star Team - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Marlies Sign Forward Ryan Kirwan to a Two-Year Contract - Toronto Marlies
- T-Birds to Host Game 2 of First Round on April 25 - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Admirals to Wear Uecker Inspired Jerseys Friday - Milwaukee Admirals
- CAA Arena Sold Out for Belleville Sens Fan Appreciation Night Presented by the Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board - Belleville Senators
- Ads Announce Roster Moves - Milwaukee Admirals
- Rangers Reassign G Talyn Boyko to ECHL's Tulsa Oilers - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Reign Use Trio of Early Goals to Down San Diego - Ontario Reign
- Silver Knights Shut out Gulls, 4-0, in Final Contest of Season Series - Henderson Silver Knights
- MacDonald Makes History in Eagles 4-2 Loss at Ontario - Colorado Eagles
- Eagles' MacDonald Nets 31st Goal to Set AHL Record for a Defenseman - AHL
- Condors Suffer Heartbreaker against Canucks - Bakersfield Condors
- Abbotsford Secures a 2-1 Win over the Bakersfield Condors in a Come from Behind Victory - Abbotsford Canucks
- Griffins Capitalize on Special Teams to Defeat IceHogs - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Amerks Take Down Monsters to Get Back in Win Column - Rochester Americans
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