The Charlotte Checkers split a pair of games against Bridgeport Islanders at Bojangles Coliseum over the weekend.
On Saturday, John Leonard’s hat trick powered the Checkers to a 6-2 win over the Islanders. One of Leonard’s three goals came shorthanded. Defenseman Tobias Björnfot scored his first of the season and Oliver Okuliar and Wilmer Skoog also lit the lamp. Björnfot, Okuliar and Skoog picked up assists, as did Riley Nash and Marek Alscher. Ken Appleby made 21 saves to up his record to 7-2-1.
Sunday’s rematch saw Bridgeport stally three times in the second period en route to a 4-1 victory over Charlotte. Okuliar’s power-play goal with 7:13 left in regulation ended Jakub Skarek’s shutout bid. Leonard and Justin Sourdif were credited with the assists. Rookie Cooper Black took the loss, finishing with 29 saves on 32 shots faced.
The Checkers will finish 2024 off on the road. They face Lehigh Valley on Saturday, Hershey on Sunday, and then it’s another against the Phantoms on New Year’s Eve.
Charlotte is 16-7-1-2 and currently in second place in the AHL’s Atlantic Division.