The Charlotte Checkers opened the Japanese Convention Finals with a convincing 5-1 win over the Laval Rocket at Place Bell on Wednesday night.
Sport 2 of the best-of-seven collection is Thursday in Laval.
5 completely different Checkers scored and Kaapo Kähkönen made 30 saves within the victory, Charlotte’s ninth straight win on the highway and fifth in a row general.
Sandis Vilmanis opened the scoring 1:44 into the sport and later added an help. Justin Sourdif and Oliver Okuliar gave the Checkers a 3-0 lead, and John Leonard scored Charlotte’s fourth shorthanded objective of the playoffs within the opening minute of the third interval to thwart Laval’s comeback bid.
Matt Kiersted returned to the Checkers lineup after lacking the earlier 5 video games and recorded two assists. Along with their shorthanded objective, Charlotte was 6-for-6 on the penalty kill.
Oliver Kapanen scored the lone objective for the Rocket, and Cayden Primeau stopped 15 of 19 pictures.
Picture: Vitor Munhoz/l’Area du Rocket Inc.
(Charlotte leads collection, 1-0)
Sport 1 – Wed., Could 28 – Charlotte 5, LAVAL 1
Sport 2 – Thu., Could 29 – Charlotte at Laval, 7:00
Sport 3 – Solar., June 1 – Laval at Charlotte, 4:00
Sport 4 – Tue., June 3 – Laval at Charlotte, 7:00
*Sport 5 – Thu., June 5 – Laval at Charlotte, 7:00
*Sport 6 – Sat., June 7 – Charlotte at Laval, 3:00
*Sport 7 – Solar., June 8 – Charlotte at Laval, 3:00
*if essential… All occasions Japanese
