Checkers' Power Play Fuels Win against Amerks
March 12, 2025 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
ROCHESTER, NY- In a back-and-forth matchup, the Checkers' power-play squad would pull a clutch performance, counting for two of the night's goals and driving Charlotte's win on the road.
The Amerks got on the board just over a minute into the matchup. The Checkers would strike back in the latter half of the first period as C.J. Smith hammered in a goal from a pass from Mike Benning.
John Leonard kicked off the second period early when his shot found the back of the net to earn Charlotte their first power-play goal of the night. Rochester rounded out the period tallying a goal, bringing a tied game into the third period.
Ben Steeves led the Checkers to yet another power-play goal midway through the third period, giving Charlotte the lead.
In the final minutes of the third period, Leonard would score on the empty-net, bringing a brief two-goal lead before the Amerks would respond and tally a late point. In a nail-biting, final minute, the Checkers defense would fend off the desperate Amerks to lead the team to a win on the road.
Notes
The Checkers are 2-1-0-0 against Rochester this season ... The Checkers are on a three-game points streak on the road ... Kaapo Kahkonen made his first start in a Charlotte sweater and earned his first win ... Tonight was the 10th time this season that the Checkers have scored multiple power-play goals in a game and the first time since Jan. 25 ... The Checkers faced their fifth penalty shot of the season and Kahkonen earned their third denial ... Tobias Bjornfot recorded his second two-assist game of the season ... Steeves' goal was his first since Jan. 3 ... Smith has points in two straight games ... Leonard is now tied for second in the AHL in goals and has scored two goals in two of his last three games ... Rasmus Asplund has assists in four consecutive games ... Riley Bezeau, Nicholas Zabaneh, Zac Dalpe, Ryan McAllister, Aidan McDonough, Justin Sourdif, Riese Gaber, Mitch Vande Sompel, Dennis Cesana and Ken Appleby were the scratches for Charlotte
American Hockey League Stories from March 12, 2025
- Bears Get Point in 5-4 Shootout Loss to Penguins - Hershey Bears
- Late-Game Strike Powers Griffins Past Wolf Pack - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Amerks Open Homestand with 4-3 Loss to Checkers - Rochester Americans
- San Diego Gulls Sign Owen Lindmark to Amateur Tryout - San Diego Gulls
- Penguins Defeat Bears in Five-Round Shootout, 5-4 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Islanders Blast Rocket at Laval - Bridgeport Islanders
- Wolf Pack Lose Heartbreaker 2-1 to Griffins - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Crunch Defeat Comets, 2-1 - Syracuse Crunch
- Phantoms Power Play Presented by Provident Bank - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Checkers' Power Play Fuels Win against Amerks - Charlotte Checkers
- P-Bruins Fall to Marlies - Providence Bruins
- Comets Defeated in Close Game vs Crunch, 2-1 - Utica Comets
- Moose Sign Jamie Engelbert to Tryout - Manitoba Moose
- T-Birds to Host Sensory-Friendly Game on Sunday, March 16 - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Belleville Sens and Quinte Museum of Natural History Announce "Fossils and Faceoffs Night" - Belleville Senators
- San Diego Gulls Acquire Carsen Twarynski from Abbotsford Canucks - San Diego Gulls
- Abbotsford Canucks Trade Carsen Twarynski to San Diego for Future Considerations - Abbotsford Canucks
- IceHogs Celebrate St. Paddy's this Saturday - Rockford IceHogs
- Game Preview: Condors at Canucks, 7 p.m. - Bakersfield Condors
- Game #57 Preview: Tucson Roadrunners (27-24-3-2) vs Ontario Reign (32-19-3-1) - Tucson Roadrunners
- Wolf Pack Open Midwest Road Trip in Grand Rapids - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Bojangles Game Preview: March 12 at Rochester - Charlotte Checkers
- Game Preview: Bears at Penguins, 7:05 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Canucks Dominate Bakersfield in a 6-2 Victory - Abbotsford Canucks
- Malott Helps Reign Down Tucson Again - Ontario Reign
- Roadrunners' Early Lead Slips Away in 4-2 Loss to Reign - Tucson Roadrunners
- Canucks Pull Away from Condors - Bakersfield Condors
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
