Kahkonen Shutout Seals Game 2 Win
May 4, 2025 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
PROVIDENCE, RI - Kaapo Kahkonen was unbeatable in Game 2, frustrating the Bruins' attack and sending the Checkers back home with a 2-0 series lead.
The veteran netminder saw plenty of action Sunday night - including five man advantages and a 15-shot flurry in the final frame - but was square to them all, earning his second straight win between the pipes for Charlotte this postseason.
The two sides traded chances throughout the contest, but a quick burst by Charlotte in the front half of the second period proved to be the difference. Wilmer Skoog crashed the net to follow up a C.J. Smith shot attempt and knocked it past the goal line, then minutes later Marek Alscher threw a puck toward a horde of bodies and ricocheted it off Ben Steeves' skate and into the back of the net.
With a 2-0 lead in hand, the Checkers never relinquished control of the game from there and now carry a 2-0 lead as the series shifts to Charlotte.
Quotes
Coach Geordie Kinnear on the game
I thought we had a good start and got to how we want to play as a group. We got away from it a little bit in the third period and you've got to give them credit because they really gave us a good push, but I thought we had a really good start.
Kinnear on Kaapo Kahkonen
Really good, obviously. The push in the third period, we needed some big saves and he gave us those. We had some good blocks, but I think Kaapo did a great job keeping it at zero.
Kinnear on blocking shots
It's just commitment, right? As a group to win in the playoffs, you've got to be able to do that, so good for the group and we've got to do it again on Wednesday.
Kinnear on Wednesday's Game 3 in Charlotte
We talked about it today. We want to continue to get better as a group, so we want to make sure we get better and move the needle in the right direction on Wednesday, because that's a really good hockey team over there that we're going to get a good push from.
Notes
The Checkers have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, which now shifts to Charlotte for the remaining games ... Kahkonen recorded the seventh playoff shutout in franchise history and his first career postseason shutout ... Steeves has a goal in both games this series ... Skoog scored his first playoff goal as a pro ... Marek Alscher recorded his first pro postseason point ... Mikulas Hovorka recorded his first postseason point as a North American pro ... The Checkers were 5-for-5 on the penalty kill and successfully killed eight straight power plays over the first two games of the series ... Dating back to the regular season the Checkers have won seven straight road games ... Riley Bezeau, Nicholas Zabaneh, MacKenzie Entwistle, Zac Dalpe, Ryan McAllister, Kai Schwindt, Aidan McDonough, Sandis Vilmanis, Riley Hughes, Riese Gaber, Liam McLinskey, Mitch Vande Sompel, Eamon Powell, Colton Huard, Dennis Cesana and Cooper Black were the extras for Charlotte
American Hockey League Stories from May 4, 2025
- Kahkonen Shutout Seals Game 2 Win - Charlotte Checkers
- P-Bruins Fall to Checkers in Game Two - Providence Bruins
- Bears Pushed to Brink in 4-2 Loss to Phantoms - Hershey Bears
- Monsters Force Game 4 After 3-1 Win against Rocket - Cleveland Monsters
- Preview: Phantoms vs. Bears, Game 3 - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Atlantic Division Semifinals Game 3 Preview: Bears at Phantoms, 5:05 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Melanson Scores in Overtime as Firebirds Win Game Two, Tie Series 1-1 - Coachella Valley Firebirds
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.
