As the regular season for the American Hockey League (AHL) winds down, intensity gets ramped up as each game goes by. The AHL Playoff Primer is constantly getting updated to see what the magic number is for teams to clinch a Calder Cup Playoff spot. For the Charlotte Checkers, they are in a tight race as always in the Atlantic Division. As of right now, their magic number is 32 points to clinch a playoff spot. They currently sit in 5th place in the Atlantic Division with 60 points, five ahead of the Springfield Thunderbirds. Furthermore, they are seven point ahead of 7th-place Lehigh Valley Phantoms. As long as the Checkers keep winning and/or the Phantoms continue to lose, their magic number goes down.
This weekend will be a huge test for the Checkers as they play host to the best team in the AHL. The Hershey Bears, as no surprise to anyone, lead the league and the Atlantic, with 86 points. The Bears’ magic number is six points in order to clinch a playoff spot. It will be an interesting series between these two Atlantic Division teams who have different paths to clinch a playoff spot. The Checkers have a two-game set at Bojangles Coliseum to see if they can gain some ground in the playoff seeding. What should fans keep an eye on in this set between the two teams?
Tale of the Tape for Checkers
The Checkers have struggled against the Bears in their regular season series. Currently, they sit 1-3-0-0 versus Hershey with their only win coming back on Dec. 10, 2023, a 3-1 decision. The last game was a 4-1 victory in favor of Hershey back on Jan. 3. However, Charlotte does have a record of 15-10-1-0 versus the Bears over the last five seasons. Even last season saw Charlotte win the season series 5-3-0-0 so the team does have some success in the head-to-head. This season’s series has not gone the way they wanted. But, there is still time to gain some ground while getting a better playoff seeding.
While the two-game set is set to give an electric atmosphere, what should fans keep an eye on between the two teams?
Charlotte Players to Watch
Spencer Knight
A key piece for the Checkers in the two-game set will be goaltender Spencer Knight. So far this season for Knight, he has a record of 19-12-4 with a .898 save percentage (SV%) and a 2.64 goals against average (GAA). Furthermore, he carries two shutouts during the 2023-24 season. If Charlotte is able to win one of these two games on Friday and Saturday, Knight will be the biggest factor in that regard. The Checkers are 1-3-0-0 this season versus the Bears and if he is able to snag them their second win for the season series, that will go a long way. Over the last five games, Knight has played in three games giving up six goals. Over that time, he has made 63 saves with a .913 SV%. He has been playing some solid hockey for Charlotte as of late and he will need to stand tall again.
If he is going, the team will be going as well. It’ll be a huge late season test for the Checkers who want to chip away at their magic number to clinch a playoff spot. Knight will be the main factor for that to happen. There is another player who will have to come up big for Charlotte as well over the next two games at home.
Mackie Samoskevich
Another player who has to come up big for Charlotte is their rookie forward Mackie Samoskevich. He has been having a stellar year for the Checkers in his rookie season in the Queen City. The 21-year-old has 15 goals and 36 points in 44 games for the team this season while seeing time with the Florida Panthers as well. Over the last five games, Samoskevich has tallied three goals and three assists while carrying a plus-4 in the process. Getting six points in the last five games is fantastic, especially for a rookie skater who’s second on the team in most offensive categories.
If he is able to keep this run of form going into the Friday and Saturday set of games, he could help lead the way to a win for Charlotte. The way he is playing right now must sit very well with head coach Geordie Kinnear who is hoping to see his team capture a second Calder Cup in franchise history. The way Samoskevich has been playing is a boost to the team who is being led by team points leader in Lucas Carlsson as well. Those two have been the catalysts for the team this season and if those two are going, then the Checkers are firing on all cylinders.
Now on the opposite side, their opponents are on another historic run looking to capture another Calder Cup as the current defending champs. Who should Checkers fans been mindful of going into the two-game set?
Hershey Players to Watch
Pierrick Dube
One player that fans need to watch out for is forward Pierrick Dube who’s making his return from his recent recall. He recently played in three games for the Washingon Capitlas before being reassigned to Hershey. For the Bears this season, Dube has 24 goals and 34 points in 50 games. The right-winger will want to continue right from where he left off before being called-up to Wahsington. He currently leads the team with is 24 goals while being ranked 5th on the team in points. Dube will be one player that the Checkers want to watch out for. That is more so if he opposite of left-winger Joe Snively who leads the team in assists (33) and points (43).
Evgeny Kuznetzov
A huge name that is now in the mix within the AHL is forward Evgeny Kuznetsov. Kuznetsov had six goals and 17 points in 43 games for the Capitals. It will be interesting if he makes his debut on Friday or Saturday in Charlotte. He is on the trip with the team but no word as to when he makes his AHL season debut. If he does, then there is a chance that Matthew Phillips may or may not make his debut as well. Lots of questions for the Bears with guys being reassigned or coming back from injury. Kuznetsov could bring another level of play for the reigning champs who are looking to go back-to-back this season. The way he plays might attract more attention to the Checkers which could leave other guys open. Charlotte will need to focus on their game and not puck watch Kuznetsov over the next two games.
As long as the Checkers focus on their game and shut down the Bears, they have a chance to split the two-game set. It will be a fun two games to watch for any hockey fan not just those of the Checkers and the Bears. Game one is Friday at 7 pm Eastern and game two on Saturday is at 6 pm Eastern.
