The Charlotte Checkers posted a 4-2 win over the Springfield Thunderbirds in their next to last game of the season last night at MassMutual Center.
Despite the victory, the Checkers quest for first place in the Atlantic Division came to end as the Hershey Bears clinched the crown by beating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins by the same score.
Not that a big deal as the Checkers will also get a first-round bye for finishing in second place.
First Star Oliver Okuliar continued his late-season hot streak with a goal and an assist and Kyle Criscuolo, Sandis Vilmanis and Rasmus Asplund also lit the lamp.
Matt Kiersted and Ben Steeves each assisted on two goals and C.J. Smith also contributed a helper.
Kaapo Kähkönen stopped 19 of 21 shots to raise his record with the Checkers to 8-4.
The two teams will go at it again tonight to conclude the regular season.
Tonight in the Stanley Cup Playoffs
- St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets 6 p.m. (TNT)
- Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars 8:30 p.m. (TNT)