Time surely does fly when the hunt to make the Calder Cup Playoffs gets tighter and tighter as time goes on. Some teams have 20 or fewer games left (there are some with 23+ games) into the 2023-24 regular season before the playoffs start in the American Hockey League (AHL). For the Charlotte Checkers, they have 20 games left in the final stretch of the season. Currently, they sit at 26-20-6-0 with 58 points being only one point behind the Hartford Wolf Pack. What’s been helping the Checkers stay in the playoff hunt is that they’re 6-2-2-0 in their last 10 games played. Furthermore, they’re on a streak of 5-0-2-0 for 12 points in their last seven games.
When it comes to the playoffs, the Checkers need to stay in sixth place or above in the Atlantic Division. As of now, they’re five points ahead of sixth-place Springfield Thunderbirds, and seven ahead of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. In terms of their place in the Eastern Conference, the Checkers sit eighth overall one point above the Toronto Marlies. They are also two points ahead of the Rochester Americans.
Players Putting the Checkers on Their Backs
Lucas Carlsson
It comes as no surprise who has been putting the Checkers on their backs this 2023-24 season. Moreover, no one should be surprised that the main guy to keep this team in the playoff hunt is defenseman Lucas Carlsson. Carlsson leads the team in points with 39 points including team leads in goals (15) and assists (24). Furthermore, what is more impressive is that he is 84 shots on goal (SOG) ahead of the next guy on the team. He has 207 SOG compared to Zac Dalpe’s 123 after 52 games this season. However, Dalpe has only played 47 compared to Carlsson’s 52 but that is impressive nonetheless.
Ready to be blown away with more SOG insanity? Carlsson leads the entire AHL with his 207 which is 29 more than Texas Stars forward Maverik Bourque. The month of February saw Carlsson being named the Defenseman Player of the Month with two goals and 10 points in nine games played. Talk about impressive for the most underrated player in the AHL.
He is on pace to set career-highs in all offensive categories with the season he is having right now. There is a chance Carlsson could be taking home individual hardware for the season he is having for the Checkers.
Mackie Samoskevich
Another player who is helping keep this team going is rookie sensation Mackie Samoskevich. The 21-year-old Newtown, CT native is having a stellar season for the Checkers in his first full year. After 42 games played, he has 14 goals, 20 assists, and 34 points on the season. In two games during the 2022-23 season, he only had two assists. What a way to build off the limited time last season to have a breakout rookie campaign for Charlotte.
What’s impressive is that in the 42 games for the Checkers, he is carrying a .81 points per game clip which leads the team. The next best is Carlsson who has a .75 Pt/G over his 52 games. Both of these guys are trying to win another Calder Cup Playoff appearance for the Checkers. They are looking for their first Calder Cup since winning it back in 2019 as the affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Goalies Need Love As Well
When talking about any team, you cannot overlook the netminders who are the last line of defense. A solid goaltender will help any team who are in the hunt for a championship at any level. For the Checkers, Spencer Knight has put his body and soul on the line this season. In 35 games between the pipes, he has an 18-12-4 record with a .896 save percentage (SV%). He also carries a 2.66 goals-against average (GAA).
The 22-year-old Darien, CT native along with his fellow statesman in Samoskevich are putting in the work to get another playoff run for Charlotte. He has two shutouts on the season to go alongside the two assists as well just for added flavor. If Knight can get his SV% over .900 and carry it into the playoffs, he will be one of the deadliest goalies. The fact that he is 22 years old and playing this well gives the Checkers hope for the Calder Cup Playoffs.
It will be interesting to see how the last 20 games will go for the Checkers, but there is no doubt it’ll be a fun final stretch of the season. Fans will need to buckle up and brace themselves for a wild last couple of months before the playoffs start which could include a deep run as well.
