Bojangles Game Preview: March 25 at Bridgeport
Published on March 25, 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!
The Checkers are looking to stay hot on the road as they visit Bridgeport with a chance to punch their ticket to the postseason.
THE MATCHUP
Record/Standings
CLT - 37-20-5-0 (3rd Atlantic)
BRI - 26-27-3-5 (5th Atlantic)
Power Play / Penalty Kill
CLT - 14.2% (28th) / 84.4% (t-4th)
BRI - 16.4% (23rd) / 81.6% (t-17th)
Offense / Defense
CLT - 3.35 GF/Game (t-5th) / 2.74 GA/Game (8th)
BRI - 2.95 GF/Game (22nd) / 3.10 GA/Game (15th)
Head-To-Head
2-0-1-0
THE STORYLINES
PLAYOFF PUSH
Tonight's tilt has big implications for Charlotte, as there are two scenarios in which the Checkers can clinch a berth in the Calder Cup Playoffs. The first is if they collect a standings point against the Islanders (a win or an overtime/shootout loss). If that doesn't happen, they can still clinch their spot if Springfield loses in any fashion to the Providence Bruins - that game will be running concurrently with the Checkers' contest in Bridgeport.
Additionally, if the Checkers beat the Islanders tonight in regulation it would secure them a top-four spot in the Atlantic Division, which would set up a pair of postseason scenarios. Either the Checkers finish in third or fourth place and host every game of the best-of-three opening round series, or they move into one of the top two seeds and earn a bye past the first round.
LOCKING IT DOWN
The last time that the Checkers and Islanders met was a few weeks ago, and it featured a pair of stellar defensive efforts from Charlotte. Louis Domingue (18 saves) and Kirill Gerasimyuk (28 saves) each pitched a shutout in their starts against Bridgeport, leading the Checkers to back-to-back victories on home ice.
Charlotte's most recent home stand was an up-and-down experience when it came to the defensive side of things. The team opened the set with those consecutive shutouts of Bridgeport, then closed it by surrendering just three total goals over two wins against Lehigh Valley. The two tilts in the middle bucked the trend, though, as the Checkers allowed five goals in back-to-back nights against the Hartford Wolf Pack.
The Checkers will look to replicate that stinginess against an Islanders team that has won their two games since facing Charlotte and put up 10 total goals along the way.
DYNAMIC DUO
After a bit of a bumpy patch, Charlotte's top two scorers have caught fire in a big way as of late. The stretch from Feb. 18 to March 17 saw Jack Devine record one point in 12 games and Ben Steeves post four points (1g, 3a) in 13 games, but across the team's last three games the former has notched three points (2g, 1a) and the latter four points (0g, 4a).
Heading into this week Devine is four points from becoming the 12th rookie in franchise history to record 40 points in a season, while Steeves has already become the sixth player in franchise history to record 40 points and 80 penalty minutes in a season.
THE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Charlotte
Ben Steeves - 4 points in last 3 games
Brian Pinho - 5 points in last 2 games
Tobias Bjornfot - 3 points in last 2 games
Bridgeport
Pierrick Dube - 3 points in last game
Liam Foudy - 3 points in last 2 games
Ethan Bear - 3 points in last game
THE INFO
Tonight's game is 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 25, 2026
- Wolves End Skid by Topping Wild 4-3 in Shootout - Chicago Wolves
- Moose Drop Second Straight 4-1 Decision - Manitoba Moose
- P-Bruins Edge Thunderbirds for 48th Win of the Season - Providence Bruins
- Daws Becomes Winningest Goaltender in Franchise History in Comets' Shootout Thriller in Laval - Utica Comets
- Cranley's Excellence Not Enough for T-Birds against AHL-Best Bruins - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Checkers Clinch Spot in Calder Cup Playoffs - Charlotte Checkers
- Checkers Drop Road Trip Opener in Bridgeport - Charlotte Checkers
- Islanders Hold off Checkers, Win 3-2 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Rize Credit Union Partners with Ontario Reign to Support Youth Programs and Expand Financial Education Throughout Southern California - Ontario Reign
- Phantoms Weekly - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Tampa Bay Lightning Reassign Goaltender Harrison Meneghin from Syracuse Crunch to Orlando Solar Bears - Syracuse Crunch
- Barracuda Sign Forward Erik Bargholtz to ATO - San Jose Barracuda
- Texas Stars Loan Forward Kaleb Pearson to Idaho Steelheads - Texas Stars
- Gulls' Colangelo Suspended Two Games for Cross Checking - San Diego Gulls
- Bojangles Game Preview: March 25 at Bridgeport - Charlotte Checkers
- Gulls' Colangelo, Wild's Petersen Suspended - AHL
- Mammoth Sign Michael Hrabal to Entry-Level Deal, Joins Tucson on PTO - Tucson Roadrunners
- Bears Open Road Trip against Crunch, Phantoms - Hershey Bears
- Wrestling Day Returns Sunday against Syracuse - Rochester Americans
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