The Checkers’ playoff hopes have come to an end with the Stockton Heat’s loss tonight.
By beating the Heat 6-0 tonight, the San Jose Barracuda clinched the final Western conference playoff and eliminated the Checkers from postseason contention.
The Checkers entered the final two games of the season needing to earn at least an equal amount of points than the Barracuda. But a pair of losses in Lake Erie to close out the regular season put the Checkers’ playoff destiny in the hands of the Heat, who faced the Barracuda in the final two games of the season.
Stockton pulled off the first win, dropping San Jose 5-4 Saturday night, but couldn’t close them out Sunday, giving the Barracuda two points in the standings and pushing them over the Checkers into the Calder Cup playoffs.
The Checkers will conduct their exit interviews this week before heading into the offseason.
