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Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Florida Panthers set sights on Stanley Cup victory as Charlotte Checkers move toward Calder Cup Final
Florida Panthers (via Getty Images) T he Florida Panthers are pursuing their much-awaited Stanley Cup win and their AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, are making history on their own in the Calder Cup Playoffs. For the first time since coming together in 2020, both teams are within reach of championship glory—an accomplishment that could replicate an unusual feat unseen in almost 30 years in professional hockey. Charlotte Checkers overwhelm Laval Rocket to sit one win shy of Calder Cup Final undefined The Florida Panthers may not be the only team in the playoffs spotlight, as the Charlotte Checkers are within a win of heading to the Calder Cup Final with a 5-1 thumping of the Laval Rocket in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. On Sunday, the team effort was visible with Riley Bezeau scoring twice, including one during a four-goal second period, as John Leonard, Will Lockwood, and Sandis Vilmanis also scored to make the game far out of reach for the AHL affiliate Laval Rocket of the Montreal Canadiens. Goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen was again phenomenal with 22 saves, supporting Charlotte to its seventh consecutive playoff victory. The Checkers have now scored 15-4 in this best-of-seven series against Laval. 'Our guys have done it all year,'' Charlotte Checkers head coach Geordie Kinnear said. 'That's a great team,'' Bezeau said. 'They finished first in their division; they're not going to go away, and we know that. We've just got to stick to our game plan and keep going.' If Charlotte sweeps the series at home Tuesday night, and if the Florida Panthers keep their Stanley Cup Final quest alive, the two teams might duplicate a task last accomplished in 1995 when the New Jersey Devils and Albany River Rats captured the Stanley Cup and Calder Cup, respectively. Meanwhile in the Western Conference, the Abbotsford Canucks lead 2-0 against the Texas Stars and the series heads to Austin for Game 3. Also read: Brad Marchand eyes the second Stanley Cup in a career-redefining run with the Florida Panthers As the Florida Panthers eye a Stanley Cup championship, the Charlotte Checkers are forging an equally impressive argument for a Calder Cup Final appearance. If both teams win their respective titles, it would be a historic double victory for the organization, helping to make this year one of the most successful in Florida's hockey history.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Charlotte Checkers up 3-0 in Eastern Conference finals
The Charlotte Checkers are just one win away from the Calder Cup Finals. Charlotte defeated the Laval Rockets at Bojangles Coliseum on Sunday, 5-1. That's the third straight game the Checkers have scored five goals. Advertisement They're now up 3-0 in the series, which is best out of seven. 'A lot of work ahead of us still, proud of the group, proud of the work, not easy coming back against a really good hockey team,' coach, Geordie Kinnear, said. 'I thought the mental toughness was important.' The Checkers will host game four on Tuesday. The Checkers' professional team, the Florida Panthers, will take on the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Finals Wednesday night. VIDEO: Charlotte Checkers ready for playoffs after first-round bye
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Nelly Korda reflects on opening round at Erin Hills during U.S. Women's Open
Canadiens Farm Team Drops Game One The AHL Eastern Conference Final got underway Wednesday night at Place Bell, and the Charlotte Checkers dominated the Laval Rocket, at least on the scoreboard, winning 5-1. The Montreal Canadiens' farm team had not played the Florida Panthers' farm team since 2018, and they'll need to adapt in a hurry if they don't want to see the series slip between their fingers. 2:46 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
CTV News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Laval Rocket down 0-2 in Eastern Association final after loss to Charlotte Checkers
Laval Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent watches play during third period AHL hockey action in Laval, Que., on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press) Trevor Carrick had a goal and two assists, leading the Charlotte Checkers to an easy 5-2 victory over the Laval Rocket on Thursday night at Place Bell. For the second game in a row, the Montreal Canadiens' farm team was unable to battle what a much more experienced and structured team had to offer. The Checkers scored one power-play goal, one shorthanded goal and three even-strength goals, and they physically dominated the Laval team without any real consequences. The best example came when Marek Alscher knocked Laurent Dauphin out with a late check about six feet from the Rocket bench. Dauphin did not return to the game. The Checkers did their job by taking a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Association final. They will return home for at least the next two games -- three if they suffer a setback. John Leonard, Michael Benning, Will Lockwood, and Riley Bezeau found the back of the net for the visitors. Kaapo Kahkonen stopped 22 shots. Noel Hoefenmayer and David Reinbacher replied for the Rocket, who seem to be learning the hard way the basics of the game in the American Hockey League's final four. Cayden Primeau allowed four goals on 18 shots and was replaced by Jacob Fowler in the second period. The 20-year-old goaltender allowed one goal on 12 shots. Talk is cheap Hostilities began well before the opening face-off. During warm-ups, several players from both teams exchanged heated words in the middle of the rink, and a few minor stick checks were exchanged. When the game got underway, the Rocket didn't miss a chance to throw checks, each time raising the decibel level in the arena. However, indiscipline crept into the conversation, and the Checkers didn't need much more to seize the momentum. The Laval team killed off the first two minutes of a four-minute penalty to Joshua Roy for high sticking, but Primeau couldn't see anything when Carrick's point shot changed direction off Dauphin's stick. Both teams exchanged golden scoring opportunities early in the second period. Kahkonen stood tall against Jared Davidson, while Primeau shut the door on MacKenzie Entwistle. The Rocket had a chance to tie the game on the power play, but as was the case the night before, the five-on-five attack did more harm than good. Logan Mailloux attempted a deke at the point of entry, but ended up turning the puck over, sending Leonard on a breakaway. Leonard made a deke to beat Primeau and score his second shorthanded goal in 24 hours. That's when it felt like the Checkers had lost all respect for their opponents. Benning dealt a heavy blow to Laval by playing around in the enemy zone before beating Primeau. Just 44 seconds later, Lockwood fired a shot from the right circle and found the back of the net, sending the Rocket goalie out of the game. The North Carolina squad also continued to impose themselves physically, notably with a check on Alscher. Tempers flared and several skirmishes broke out before the end of the second period. The Rocket had a glimmer of hope in the final period when Hoefenmayer fired a shot from the point that slipped past Kahkonen, but Bezeau completed the humiliation by beating Fowler on the blocker side with less than seven minutes remaining. Reinbacher sparked the final celebrations with 59.3 seconds left on the clock. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 30, 2025.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Charlotte Checkers lead Eastern Conference finals after win over Laval
The Charlotte Checkers are back in action Thursday night after earning a one-game lead in the Eastern Conference finals. The Checkers topped the Laval Rockets Wednesday night, 5-1. John Leonard scored his third goal of the preseason, setting an all-time franchise record. Advertisement Game two at Laval is set for 7 p.m. VIDEO: Charlotte Checkers announce new ownership
