The Charlotte Checkers are on the brink of elimination after dropping Game 4 of the Calder Cup Final to the Abbotsford Canucks by a 3-2 count at Abbotsford Centre on Thursday night.
Jonathan Lekkerimäki scored twice, Arshdeep Bains also lit the lamp, and Artūrs Šilovs made 32 saves as the Canucks took a commanding three games to one lead in the series.
Lekkerimäki’s second goal of the game 3:47 into the third period put the Canucks by three and ended up being the game-winner.
Charlotte finally got on the board thanks to power-play goal from Kyle Criscuolo, with the assists going to Jack Devine and Eamon Powell, at the 8:34 mark. It was Powell’s first point of the playoffs.
Devine would notch his first professional goal with 26.4 seconds remaining on the clock with Kaapo Kähkönen, who finished with 20 saves, off for an extra attacker. Justin Sourdif and John Leonard drew the helpers.
The Checkers will try to join the 1949 Providence Reds, the 1947 Hershey Bears and the 1946 Buffalo Bisons as the only teams to rally from a 3-1 deficit in the Final.
Game 5 will be on Saturday in Abbotsford. If Charlotte wins, the series will shift back to Bojangles Arena for Game 6 on Monday and Game 7 (if necessary) on Wednesday. It’s do or die time.