Bojangles Game Preview: March 2 & 3 at Hershey
Published on March 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!
This lengthy trip hits Chocolate Town this week as the Checkers look to string some wins together on the road against the Bears.
THE MATCHUP
Record/Standings
CLT - 30-18-4-0 (3rd Atlantic)
HER - 25-20-6-2 (4th Atlantic)
Power Play / Penalty Kill
CLT - 16.0% (25th) / 84.4% (5th)
HER - 18.8% (t-16th) / 81.3% (t-16th)
Offense / Defense
CLT - 3.31 GF/Game (8th) / 2.81 GA/Game (8th)
HER - 2.91 GF/Game (22nd) / 3.04 GA/Game (13th)
Head-To-Head
2-1-1-0
THE STORYLINES
ON THE ROAD
The Checkers are in the middle of a beast of a road trip, spanning 10-games and nearly three weeks. The results have been up and down - the team is currently sitting at 3-2-1-0 on this trip, with all three of the wins coming via one-goal games and the two regulation losses seeing Charlotte outscored 9-1.
These two matchups with Hershey have big stakes in the Atlantic Division race. The Bears - who have won three straight by a combined score of 15-5 - are directly behind the third-place Checkers in the division standings, trailing by six points with a game in hand.
FREE HOCKEY
Only two teams in the AHL have had fewer games go beyond regulation than Charlotte's 10, but the Checkers have seen an influx of overtimes as of late. Five of the team's last 17 contests have been decided in overtime or a shootout, including three of the last six.
The Checkers have been perfect in the shootout, earning the win on the two occasions thus far - both of which have come since Jan. 18 - while surrendering zero goals. As for games that end in overtime, they are an even 4-4 - including splitting the most two recent instances during this current road trip.
SPECIAL TEAMS STRUGGLES
Since an impressive 3-for-7 outing in their 9-0 win on Feb. 16, the Checkers have gone cold on the man advantage. They have not scored a power-play goal on their current road trip and are stuck in an 0-for-16 stretch over the last six games.
The penalty kill - which has been a strength of Charlotte's this season and still ranks fifth in the AHL - has also hit a rough patch during this trek. The Checkers have surrendered a power-play goal in five of the six games and their opponents are 5-for-15 on the man advantage over the last five games.
NATE THE GREAT
Nate Smith has been a strong producer since joining the Checkers this season, and he's taken his game to another level recently. The forward heads into this series on a four-game point streak and has racked up nine points (5g, 4a) over his last seven games.
THE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Charlotte
Mitch Vande Sompel - 4 points in last 6 games
Nate Smith - 9 points in last 7 games
Robert Mastrosimone - 3 points in last 4 games
Hershey
Sonny Milano - 3 points in last 2 games
Andrew Cristall - 4 points in last 3 games
Brett Leason - 11 points in last 9 games
THE INFO
Both of this week'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 March 2, 2026
- Bears Top Checkers in 3-2 OT Win - Hershey Bears
- Checkers Snag Point in Hershey, Lose 3-2 in OT - Charlotte Checkers
- Preview: Condors vs. Eagles, 10:30 a.m. - Bakersfield Condors
- Panthers Assign Luke Kunin to Checkers - Charlotte Checkers
- Forward Jared Wright, Defenseman Angus Booth Recalled by LA Kings - Ontario Reign
- Goaltender Erik Portillo Recalled by LA Kings - Ontario Reign
- Syracuse Crunch Recall Forward Reece Newkirk, Defenseman Chris Harpur from Orlando Solar Bears - Syracuse Crunch
- Henderson Silver Knights Accepting 2026 Grant Applications - Henderson Silver Knights
- Phantoms Weekly - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Ville Koivunen Named Fortune Tires "Expect More" AHL Player of the Month - AHL
- Ville Koivunen Named AHL Player of the Month for February - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Admirals' Marino Suspended for One Game - AHL
- Matyas Melovsky Inks Entry-Level NHL Contract with Devils - Utica Comets
- Grand Rapids' Michael Brandsegg-Nygård Named Howies Hockey Tape/AHL Player of the Week - AHL
- Michael Brandsegg-Nygard Named AHL Player of the Week - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Bojangles Game Preview: March 2 & 3 at Hershey - Charlotte Checkers
- Belleville Still Battling for Playoff Spot After Tough Weekend vs Comets - Belleville Senators
- Wolf Pack Recall Forward Zakary Karpa from Loan - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game Preview: Bears vs. Checkers, 7 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Penguins Recall Brickey, Renwick and Urdahl - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Wranglers Pick up Two Points in Doubleheader - Calgary Wranglers
- Silver Knights Fall To Eagles, 4-3, In Shootout - Henderson Silver Knights
- Roadrunners Rally to Stun Barracuda 6-4 in San Jose - Tucson Roadrunners
- Reign Leave Bakersfield behind in Third Period - Ontario Reign
- Roadrunners Spoil Huntington's Big Night with Comeback Win - San Jose Barracuda
- Tenacious Effort Lifts Colorado to 4-3 Shootout Win over Silver Knights - Colorado Eagles
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