The Charlotte Checkers opened their defense of the Eastern Conference championship with an 8-1 victory over the Springfield Thunderbirds in Game 1 of their best-of-three series at Bojangles Coliseum. Noah Gregor scored twice while Jack Studnicka collected four points in a record-setting playoff performance for Charlotte. The Checkers now lead the series 1-0 heading into Game 2 on Friday.
Charlotte struck first with four goals in the opening period, including both from Gregor, setting the tone early. They poured on three more tallies within the first 7:47 of the second frame to build a 7-0 lead. The eight goals marked the most ever scored by the Checkers in a Calder Cup Playoff game. Cooper Black stopped 18 shots in his playoff debut between the pipes for Charlotte. Studnicka contributed two goals and two assists, with Marek Alscher, Nolan Foote, Sandis Vilmanis and Tobias Björnfot also finding the net. Gregor added 11 goals in 26 regular-season games with Charlotte after appearing in 37 NHL contests with Florida. Julien Gauthier netted Springfield's lone goal; he played on Charlotte's 2019 Calder Cup-winning squad. The Thunderbirds have now been outscored 24-5 in their last three visits to Bojangles Coliseum. Game 2 takes place Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET in Charlotte, with a potential Game 3 on Saturday if necessary.
