The victory, paired with the Penguins’ loss to Providence tonight, ensures that the Checkers will finish as one of the top two teams in the Atlantic Division and earn a first-round bye in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Things started strong for Charlotte, and it was the team’s newest face that helped provide the spark. Jack Devine - making his pro debut after completing his illustrious college career last week - earned his first pro point less than four minutes in when he drove to the net and created a rebound for John Leonard to hammer in. The 21-year-old picked up another helper at the end of the frame as well, when his shot on the man advantage kicked off of the netminder’s pad and was deposited in by Oliver Okuliar to double the visitors’ lead.
Hartford got on the board in the later stages of the second, but Okuliar struck again to push the Checkers back ahead before the buzzer - this time cleaning up a scramble in front for his second of the night.
That would prove to be enough ammo for Charlotte. The Wolf Pack narrowed the lead to a goal once more late in the third, but the Checkers were able to lock things down - backstopped by a 20-save performance from Kaapo Kahkonen - and emerge with two critical points in the standings.
