The Charlotte Checkers completed the 2025-26 AHL regular season by splitting a weekend set with the visiting Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Bojangles Coliseum.
Lehigh Valley’s Yaniv Perets made 39 saves and Christian Kyrou and Jackson Edward scored the goals as the Phantoms blanked the Checkers by a 2-0 count on Saturday. Cooper Black stopped 13 of 14 shots faced and defenseman Trevor Carrick registered a game-high nine shots on goal.
The Checkers rebounded with a 4-1 win in the season finale to finish the campaign with 44-23-5 record. Sandis Vilmanis scored his 17th goal and added two assists; Jack Studnicka added a pair; and Ben Steeves potted his team-leading 23rd of the season. All four of Charlotte’s goals came on the power play. Nate Smith collected two helpers and assists were also credited to Jack Devine, Robert Mastrosimone , Gracyn Sawchyn and Ludvig Jansson. Veteran Louis Domingue got the start and stopped 11 shots before departing early in the third with an injury. Kirill Gerasimyuk came on in relief and made four saves on five shots.
The Checkers, who finished third in the Atlantic Division, will take on the sixth-place Springfield Thunderbirds in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs, starting on Wednesday with all games in Charlotte.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
- WHEN: 7 p.m. ET
- WHERE: PPG Paints Arena – Pittsburgh, PA
- SERIES: Philadelphia leads 1-0
- ON THE TUBE: ESPN
- PROJECTED STARTERS: Penguins: Skinner (0-1 .850 / 3.12 0SO) Flyers: Vladar (1-0 .882 / 2.00 0SO)
- PLAYER STATS: Pittsburgh / Philadelphia
CAROLINA HURRICANES vs. OTTAWA SENATORS
- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. ET
- WHERE: Lenovo Center – Raleigh, NC
- SERIES: Carolina leads 1-0
- ON THE TUBE: ESPN 2
- PROJECTED STARTERS: Hurricanes: Andersen (1-0 1.000 / 0.00 1SO) Senators: Ullmark (0-1 .931 / 2.11 0SO)
- PLAYER STATS: Carolina / Ottawa
DALLAS STARS vs. MINNESOTA WILD
- WHEN: 9:30 p.m. ET
- WHERE: American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX
- SERIES: Minnesota leads 1-0
- ON THE TUBE: ESPN
- PROJECTED STARTERS: Stars: Oettinger (0-1 .821 / 5.12 0SO) Wild: Wallstadt (1-0 .964 / 1.00 0SO)
- PLAYER STATS: Dallas / Minnesota
EDMONTON OILERS vs. ANAHEIM DUCKS
- WHEN: 10 p.m. ET
- WHERE: Rogers Place – Edmonton, AB
- SEASON SERIES: Edmonton won 2-1
- ON THE TUBE: ESPN 2
- PROJECTED STARTERS: Oilers: Ingram (16-10-3 .899 / 2.60 2SO) Ducks: Dostal (30-20-4 .888 / 3.10 0SO)
- PLAYER STATS: Edmonton / Anaheim
Sunday’s results
- Avalanche 2, Kings 1 (Colorado leads series 1-0)
- Canadiens 4, Lightning 3 (OT) (Montreal leads series 1-0)
- Sabres 4, Bruins 3 (Buffalo leads series 1-0)
- Golden Knights 4, Mammoth 2 (Vegas leads series 1-0)