Charlotte is 7-0-1 over their last eight games, winning four consecutive contests.
Nate Smith scored in his 200th AHL game at 5:52, ripping a wrist shot over the left shoulder of Wolf Pack netminder Dylan Garand. Nolan Foote and Mike Benning assisted with Smith’s fifth goal of the season. Ben Steeves recorded his team-leading 16th goal at 16:48, doubling Charlotte’s lead after a nice pass from Riese Gaber. Charlotte was outshot 11-8 in the first period and killed off a double-minor penalty in the game’s opening minutes.
Brett Chorske gave the Checkers a 3-0 lead with his seventh goal of the season, 12:03 into the second period, firing a shot from the slot through the right arm of Garand. Gaber provided another primary assist, while Eamon Powell snabbed the secondary apple. A little under four minutes before Chorske’s goal, Checkers goaltender Cooper Black came up with a breakaway save on Blake Hillman, preserving a 2-0 lead at the time.
Jack Studnicka nabbed his third goal of the season, courtesy of a shorthanded breakaway, at 4:12 of the third period. Studnicka’s goal was Charlotte’s fifth shorthanded tally of the 2025-26 campaign. Chorske lit the lamp for the second time at 7:50 of the final frame, blasting a one-timer between the legs of Garand off a dish from Gaber.
Wilmer Skoog tied Steeves for the team lead in goals with his own 16th of the season at 11:58, increasing Charlotte’s lead to 6-0. Gaber continued his tremendous play with a goal at 13:12, recording four points in a single game for the first time in his AHL career. Daniel Walcott spoiled Black’s shutout with 1:31 left in regulation, providing the only goal for Hartford.
Black made 27 saves on 28 shots in Charlotte’s win, collecting his 17th victory of the season.
