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Charlotte Checkers Lose in OT, Florida Panthers On-Ice Season Ends
TL;DR
The Charlotte Checkers lost 2-1 in overtime to the Springfield Thunderbirds, ending their AHL Calder Cup playoff run. This loss marks the conclusion of their season after reaching the Calder Cup Final last year.
Key points
- Charlotte Checkers lost 2-1 in overtime
- Season ended in first-round AHL Calder Cup playoffs
- Springfield Thunderbirds won the decisive game
- Checkers reached Calder Cup Final last year
- Florida Panthers' AHL team hopes dashed
Charlotte CheckersSpringfield ThunderbirdsFlorida Panthers
The Charlotte Checkers salute their fans at Bojangles Coliseum following Saturday’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds in Game 3 of their first-round AHL Calder Cup playoff series. // Photo courtesy @CheckersHockey
The Florida Panthers ended their season with a win against the Red Wings earlier this month, yet hoped their AHL team in Charlotte would keep things going for a bit.
That all ended on Saturday night.
The Charlotte Checkers, who made it to the AHL’s Calder Cup Final last year, saw their season come to an unexpected close Saturday with a 2-1 overtime loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds in their best-of-3 first-round series.
The Thunderbirds were Florida’s AHL team for a few years before flipping to the St. Louis Blues in 2020.
Regardless, the Checkers saw their season end after opening with an 8-1 win in Game 1 on Wednesday night.
In Game 2, Springfield pulled out a 5-2 win to force a Game 3 finale.
Saturday, Charlotte scored first for the third straight game when Toby Bjornfot scored off a pass from Jack Studnicka at 5:58 of the opening period.
In the third, scored at 5:45 on a bouncing puck that beat — playing his third game of the series and second in as many nights — to tie the score.
Q&A
What was the final score of the Charlotte Checkers vs. Springfield Thunderbirds game?
The final score was 2-1 in favor of the Springfield Thunderbirds.
Why did the Charlotte Checkers' season end?
The Charlotte Checkers' season ended due to their overtime loss in Game 3 of the first-round AHL Calder Cup playoff series.
How did the Charlotte Checkers perform in the previous season?
In the previous season, the Charlotte Checkers reached the AHL Calder Cup Final.
What are the implications of the Checkers' loss for the Florida Panthers?
The Checkers' loss means the Florida Panthers' AHL affiliate's playoff hopes are over, following their own season-ending win against the Red Wings.
