Checkers Win Third Straight, Beat Americans 5-3
AHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers Win Third Straight, Beat Americans 5-3

Published on April 1, 2026 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Sandis Vilmanis posted a three-point game as the Charlotte Checkers (40-21-5-0) disposed of the Rochester Americans (28-26-5-4) by a score of 5-3 on Wednesday night at Blue Cross Arena.

Jack Studnicka wasted no time, scoring 28 seconds into the opening period, notching his ninth goal of the season. Studnicka was sent in alone down the slot by Sandis Vilmanis following a clear by Wilmer Skoog.

Ludvig Jansson doubled the score at 11:07, wristing a shot past Americans goaltender Devon Levi on a Checkers power play. Vilmanis and Skoog recorded assists on Jansson's goal.

Rochester's Noah Laaouan was the first to score in the second period, splitting Charlotte's two-goal lead. Ben Steeves' 20th of the season restored it, slamming a rebound off the back endboards past a sprawling Levi. Jack Devine and Mitch Vande Sompel provided the helpers on Steeves' fourth goal against Rochester this season.

Konsta Helenius capitalized on a Rochester 5-on-3 late in the second period, bringing the Americans within a goal before the end of forty minutes.

MacKenzie Entwistle added an insurance marker for Charlotte at 10:41 of the third period, marking his fifth goal of the season and first since February 21 in Syracuse. Gavin Beyreuther cut the Checkers' lead to 4-3 late in the game, but Vilmanis secured the win with an empty-netter in the game's final minute.

The Checkers head north of the border to battle the Toronto Marlies on Friday night at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Coverage of the game will be found on FloHockey and Mixlr.

NOTES

Skoog returned to the lineup for the first time since March 13 against Bridgeport ... Jansson's goal was his first since October 11 in Springfield ... Steeves is the first Checkers player to hit 20 goals in the 2025-26 season ... Charlotte went 1-for-3 on the power play and 5-for-7 on the penalty kill ... the Checkers finished the season series 3-1 against Rochetser this season ... Liam McLinskey, Kai Schwindt, Wilmer Skoog, Marek Alscher and Cooper Black were scratched for Charlotte ... defensemen Mikulas Hovorka and Tobias Bjornfot were recalled by the Florida Panthers on Wednesday morning.

Check out the Charlotte Checkers Statistics

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