The Checkers took control early with tallies from Patrick Giles and Ben Steeves in the opening frame and never looked back. The Thunderbirds cut the lead to a single goal heading into the first intermission, but that was as close as they would come to derailing the streaking Checkers.
Keep that puck! pic.twitter.com/NgPYm4BrKQ
— x - Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) April 13, 2024
Mackie Samoskevich unloaded a seeing-eye snipe quickly in the middle frame - cashing in on a carry-over power play - and Gerry Mayhew finished off a slick play from Patrick Khodorenko minutes later to help the visitors snatch back the momentum.
The Thunderbirds would pull within a pair of goals on two occasions, but Charlotte had a rebuttal each time - first via a laser from Will Lockwood to pile onto his eventual four-point night, and finally from a Rasmus Asplund empty-net dagger.
Three points on the night for Lockwood! pic.twitter.com/jJsfy1xHtM
— x - Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) April 14, 2024
Magnus Hellberg kept any hopes of a Springfield rally under wraps, finishing the night with 25 saves and helping the Checkers double up their division rivals.