Series Primer: Checkers vs Rocket
With the North Division title now secured, Laval will now take aim at the Eastern Conference title as they take on Florida’s affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. Here’s a look at the series ahead.
Schedule
May 28: in Laval
May 29: in Laval
June 1: in Charlotte
June 3: in Charlotte
June 5: in Charlotte*
June 7: in Laval*
June 8: in Laval*
*-if necessary
Regular Season Comparison
Laval
48-19-3-2 record
229 GF
178 GA
18.9% PP
83.2% PK
Charlotte
44-22-3-3 record
234 GF
185 GA
21.2% PP
86.6% PK (league leader)
Playoff Comparison
Laval
6-3-0 record
30 GF
21 GA
24.2% PP
76.7% PK
Charlotte
6-2-0 record
27 GF
15 GA
7.1% PP
92.3% PK (league leader)
Season Series
Well, there’s not a lot to get into here. Laval and Charlotte didn’t play each other this season, or last year, or the year before that. In fact, the last time these teams met head-to-head was December 29, 2018, when the Checkers won 5-4 in overtime. Neither team has anyone left who played in that game (very few are even still with their respective NHL organizations; only Jake Evans and Michael Pezzetta are for the Habs) so there’s absolutely nothing to be gleaned from their last meeting.
Regular Season Leaders
Laval
Goals: Laurent Dauphin (26)
Assists: Alex Barre-Boulet (41)
Points: Alex Barre-Boulet (63)
+/-: Dauphin/Davidson (+25)
PIMS: Florian Xhekaj (175)
Shots: Alex Barre-Boulet (171)
Charlotte
Goals: John Leonard (36)
Assists: Trevor Carrick (37)
Points: John Leonard (61)
+/-: Matt Kiersted (+34)
PIMS: Oliver Okuliar (119)
Shots: John Leonard (252)
Playoff Leaders
Laval
Goals: Laurent Dauphin (5)
Assists: Alex Barre-Boulet (7)
Points: Alex Barre-Boulet (10)
+/-: Adam Engstrom (+6)
PIMS: Florian Xhekaj (33)
Shots: Laurent Dauphin (31)
Charlotte
Goals: Rasmus Asplund (4)
Assists: Criscuolo/Puljujarvi (4)
Points: Asplund/Leonard (6)
+/-: Tobias Bjornfot (+8)
PIMS: Sandis Vilmanis (8)
Shots: C.J. Smith (24)
Charlotte’s Players to Watch
Rasmus Asplund: A full-time NHL player back in 2021-22, Asplund has been more of an AHL regular since then and has put up back-to-back 40-plus-point seasons while being a big part of their penalty kill, a group that has scored more goals than they’ve allowed in the playoffs.
John Leonard: After notching just 33 points last season, the 26-year-old exploded for 36 goals this year on his fourth team in as many seasons. It’s safe to say he’s finally found a home.
Jesse Puljujarvi: Yes, this is the former fourth overall pick who terminated his one-way deal with Pittsburgh in-season to eventually sign a PTO with Charlotte, one that was converted to an NHL deal later in the year. Don’t let the fourth-line placement fool you, he has been relatively productive in his limited AHL action.
Tobias Bjornfot: He has seen NHL action in the last six years, spanning 134 games over that stretch. Once viewed as a safe bet to play on an NHL third pairing, he has largely played that role at the top level but has become a key shutdown defender, especially with Matt Kiersted banged up.
Kaapo Kahkonen: It has been an eventful year for the goalie as he was claimed off waivers twice before finally passing through unclaimed. He was then traded in a one-for-one swap of third-string netminders. The move has worked out quite well for Charlotte as he shaved nearly a full goal per game off his GAA with Manitoba (3.29 to 2.30) and has been even better in the playoffs, posting a 1.85 mark with a .918 SV%. This is his first season of AHL action since 2020 as Kahkonen was an NHL regular in between.
Projected Lines
Laval
Gignac – Dauphin – Barre-Boulet
Farrell – Kapanen – Roy
Harvey-Pinard – Condotta – Simoneau
Davidson – Xhekaj – Beck
Hayes – Reinbacher
Hoefenmayer – Mailloux
Engstrom – Lindstrom
Charlotte
Skoog – Asplund – Leonard
Smith– Criscuolo – Lockwood
Okuliar – Sourdif – Steeves
Vilmanis – Chorske – Puljujarvi
Bjornfot – Hovorka
Carrick – Benning
Alscher – Cesana