Charlotte's Offense Annihilates Springfield in Game One of Atlantic Division First Round

Charlotte Checkers/Florida Panthers forward Noah Gregor (18) moves the puck against the Seattle Kraken during their game at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL. (Source: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The Charlotte Checkers had a field day, stomping the Springfield Thunderbirds 8-1 in the First Round Series of the Atlantic Division in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs.  

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The home team outshot the Thunderbirds 15-2 in the first period and converted four of those shots into goals, with two from Panthers regular cast member Noah Gregor and one each from 2019 first-rounder Nolan Foote and 2022 third-rounder Marek Alscher.

In the second period, the onslaught continued with Charlotte outshooting Springfield again 13-8 with four of the T-Birds shots coming from the 17:30 to the 18:35 mark. Springfield had three power play opportunities but could not put up any shots on goal. The Checkers meanwhile scored three more goals to go up 7-0 coming via the sticks of 2017 Bruins second-rounder Jack Studnicka, 2026 Olympian for Latvia men's hockey team Sandis Vilmanis and 2019 Kings first-rounder Tobias Bjornfot.

Springfield kept the shots differential competitive in the third period at 10-9 including getting a goal back, but the game was long gone by then.

Checkers goalie made 18 saves off 19 shots to register a save percentage of 0.947.

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