The Charlotte Checkers went out west for their four-game road trip in California to face off against the San Jose Barracuda and the San Diego Gulls. Charlotte’s first stop of the trip was in Northern California to square off for a two-game set versus the Barracuda. While the team split the set, winning game one 5-3 while dropping game two 5-1, there were some positives to take away from those games in NorCal, especially in the way of Lucas Carlsson.
Throw Them Hats Lucas Carlsson
Last season for the Checkers, Lucas Carlsson had himself a year scoring 20 goals while tallying 34 assists for 54 points in 61 games played. Oh, he also managed plus-24 for good measure. In the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs, he accumulated three goals and three assists for six points in seven games for Charlotte. It is clear that he is no stranger to scoring goals for the red and black.
In the team’s first game versus the Barracudas, he definitely was feeling it that night as he scored a hat trick to propel the Checkers to the previously mentioned 5-3 win.
His first goal was a thing of beauty after getting a brilliant saucer pass from Patrick Giles that Carlsson settled down and slotted it past the Barracuda goaltender Georgi Romanov. Getting a goal with under two minutes left in the first period was the spark the Checkers needed. Also, the goal was the catalyst for the scoring touch Charlotte needed. They went on a scoring spree after it.
Lucas Carlsson Cannot Be Stopped
Despite the Barracuda regaining their one-goal lead early in the second period, the Checkers rattled off three of their own. Carlsson added his second of the game, giving the Checkers the 3-2 lead in what was a rocket of a slapshot to rip it past Romanov.
His second goal of the game came on the power-play for the Checkers. At the time, Charlotte was looking to take control of the back-and-forth game. The third goal that Carlsson scored? It was the aforementioned fourth goal of the game for the Checkers as he completed the hat trick. The third from him ended up being the game-winning goal for Charlotte. Justin Sourdif, keeping his head up and on a swivel, found Carlsson striking into the Barracuda zone. He laid a perfect pass into Carlsson’s wheelhouse.
Carlsson did not waste any time or the opportunity, and he clapped the one-timer passed a heavily screened Romanov. His third goal of the game was the best of the three to complete the dominant hat trick.
Carlsson’s three-goal game was what led the Checkers to their first win of the California road trip. He ended the night with a plus-three and a team-leading 12 shots. His 12 was almost half of the 40 that Charlotte had in the game. Talk about feeling it from the 26-year-old Gavle, Sweden native.
Credit where credit is due: Jonah Gadjovich had himself a game and scored a pair of goals in the effort. Spencer Knight claimed his fourth win of the season, stopping 35 of 38 shots.
Checkers Fall in Game Two
Game two for the Checkers did not go their way as they dropped it in a 5-1 loss to split the set versus the Barracuda. Riley McAllister was the lone goal-scorer as he tried to get Charlotte back into the game. He cut the San Jose lead in half at the time, but it was not enough. The Barracuda scored three more to seal the win and have the set in a tie.
Charlotte ended the Northern California part of their West Coast trip with a respectable six goals in two games. However, five of the six did come in game two. Nonetheless, it was a great set of games over the weekend to remember for the Checkers. Spencer Knight got his fourth win, and Carlsson got a hat trick in game one.
What is Next for Charlotte?
The Checkers will end their California road trip by going to SoCal to face the San Diego Gulls. Both games will be at 10 p.m. Eastern. Game one of the two-game set will be on Wednesday, Nov. 15, with game two being on Friday, Nov. 17. Charlotte will be looking to hopefully win both games to head back home with a 3-1 record on the road trip. However, the worst they can do is leave the California Republic with a 2-2 record unless overtime is involved.
Either way, it should be an exciting couple of games for the Checkers, who are seeing some West Coast action in the middle of November.
