The Charlotte Checkers split its back-to-back with the Springfield Thunderbirds at Bojangles Coliseum over the weekend and by earning two points in Saturday’s win, moved past the Hartford Wolfpack, who they beat twice earlier in the week, into fourth place in the AHL’s Atlantic Division.
Gerry Mayhew’s fifteenth goal of the season 2:13 into the third period lifted the Checkers to a 4-3 win in the first game of the set. In addition assisting on the game-winner, Wilmer Skoog scored a pair of goals and Mitchell Vande Sompel also the lit the lamp. Rasmus Asplund, Ryan McAllister, Uvis Balinskis, Santtu Kinnunen and Will Lockwood picked up assists. Spencer Knight stopped 22 of 25 shots to collect his 21st win.
In Sunday’s game, Charlotte built a 4-2 second period lead before surrendering four straight goals to lose to the Thunderbirds by a 6-4 count. Zac Dalpe, Asplund, Skoog and Mayhew scored the goals for the Checkers. Kinnunen collected two helpers and Cameron Morrison, Casey Fitzgerald, Balinskis, Mackie Samoskevich, Asplund and Alexander True each had one assist. Magnus Hellberg took loss, giving up the six goals on 24 shots.
The two teams will meet again on Friday in Springfield before the Checkers (31-23-6) pay a visit to the second place Bruins in Providence on Saturday.