Bojangles Game Preview: April 3 & 4 at Toronto
Published on April 2, 2026 under 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!
Charlotte's final road trip of the regular season wraps up this weekend with the team's lone trip north of the border to face the Marlies.
THE MATCHUP
Record/Standings
CLT - 40-21-5-0 (3rd Atlantic)
TOR - 32-23-5-5 (3rd North)
Power Play / Penalty Kill
CLT - 14.2% (27th) / 84.2% (6th)
TOR - 17.9% (t-19th) / 83.8% (8th)
Offense / Defense
CLT - 3.32 GF/Game (t-8th) / 2.70 GA/Game (8th)
TOR - 3.18 GF/Game (13th) / 3.15 GA/Game (t-18th)
Head-To-Head
1-1-0-0
THE STORYLINES
THE PLAYOFF RACE
With six games left on their regular season slate, the Checkers have locked in at least a third-place finish in the Atlantic Division - which would mean the entirety of a best-of-three first round series would be played at Bojangles Coliseum. There is still a chance that they could move into second place and secure a first-round bye, though.
The Checkers head into the two-game weekend five points behind the Penguins, who hold one game in hand over them and similarly play on Friday and Saturday.
POWERING UP
After trudging through a 15-game drought, the Charlotte power play has started to find success as of late. The Checkers scored once on three opportunities in Wednesday's win over Rochester, and it marked the first time that they had back-to-back games with a power-play goal since February 14 and 16. Overall Charlotte has scored on the man advantage in three of its last five contests.
The Checkers will be looking to keep that momentum rolling against a Toronto squad that boasts the eighth-ranked penalty kill in the AHL.
JANSSON STEPS UP
With Mike Benning, Tobias Bjornfot and Mikulas Hovorka all up with Florida, the depth of Charlotte's blue line has been tested during this trip. The d-corp has been up to the task, though, and one skater in particular who has made an impact has been Ludvig Jansson. After posting six points through his first 24 games of the season, the rookie has found the scoresheet in each of his last three appearances (March 21, 29 and April 1) - the latter two of which have come on the man advantage.
THE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Charlotte
Ludvig Jansson - 3 points in last 3 games
Sandis Vilmanis - 7 points in last 5 games
Jakc Devine - 2 points in last 2 games
Toronto
Andrew Shaw - 11 points in last 7 games
William Villeneuve - 8 points in last 9 games
Alex Nylander - 16 points in last 9 games
THE INFO
Both of this weekend's games are available to stream via AHLTV on FloHockey!
Fans can also listen to the radio broadcast on the Checkers App or online.
American Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2026
- Bojangles Game Preview: April 3 & 4 at Toronto - Charlotte Checkers
- Series Preview - Tucson Roadrunners at Henderson Silver Knights - Tucson Roadrunners
- Roger McQueen to Make AHL Debut Friday Night - San Diego Gulls
- Celebrate Rockford Hockey History Saturday - Rockford IceHogs
- Penguins Sign Forward Daniel Russell - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- New York Rangers Reassign G Hugo Ollas to Hartford Wolf Pack - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Belleville Sens Hosting 2025-26 Fan Appreciation Night on April 17 - Belleville Senators
- Roadrunners Sign Brandon Holt to PTO and AHL Deal for 2026-27 Season - Tucson Roadrunners
- The Hart Beat - Volume 1, Issue 23 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Abbotsford Canucks to Host Fan Appreciation Weekend on April 3rd and 4th - Abbotsford Canucks
- Goaltender Hampton Slukynsky and Forward Grant Slukynsky Join Ontario Reign on ATO's - Ontario Reign
- Griffins to Host Fan Appreciation Night, Michigan Lottery Million-Dollar Giveaway - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Moose Sign Defenceman Lukas Gustafsson - Manitoba Moose
- Wranglers Battle in 2-1 Loss to Colorado - Calgary Wranglers
- Moose Sign Forward Davis Burnside - Manitoba Moose
- Phantoms Weekly - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
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- Roadrunners Fall 3-0 to Gulls in Road Trip Opener - Tucson Roadrunners
- Clang Lifts Gulls to 3-0 Shutout Victory - San Diego Gulls
- Eagles Ride Early Lead to 5-2 Win over Bakersfield - Colorado Eagles
- Postava Registers Third Shutout in Win over Rockford - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Condors Home Unbeaten Run Ends in Loss to Colorado - Bakersfield Condors
- Amerks Home Win Streak Snapped in Loss to Charlotte - Rochester Americans
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