Goalie Joey Daccord made multiple big stops among his 28 saves, a big why Charlotte became the first team in the AHL's Eastern Conference to qualify for the postseason, after being middle-of-the-pack at the turn of the calendar year. Winning together in the AHL is a desired outcome for prospects and developing pros-and it's been impressive to see Charlotte's success given the affiliate's roster consists of players from both Seattle and Florida Panthers.
With lots of talent on the AHL squad, Henman has competed for ice time this season. He did not dress for the two previous games before last Friday's 3-2 clincher.
"He probably didn't like his last game and had to sit on it for a little bit, but when you work hard and you're a good person and good teammate, when you get your chance you're going to make the most of it," said Checkers head coach Geordie Kinnear to team reporter Nicholas Niedzielski. "Luke made the most of it tonight. To be able to win in the end, you have to have people step up and make plays in key times. He did that tonight."
"We put in a lot of work all year," said Henman. "It is a grind, but we've got a great group of guys. We work hard for each other every day and it's really starting to show on the ice. We're really happy but we're not satisfied yet ... I just want to contribute any way I can, keep working hard and good things will happen."
True and Henman both scored again Sunday in an overtime loss to Hartford. Despite the OT results, the Checkers kept their franchise-record home standings points streak going at 15 games. They are 12-0-3 at home during the run.
With his goal in a 4-1 Charlotte win Wednesday, True has scored five goals in his last seven games and the last four straight. He leads Charlotte in scoring with 18 goals and 24 assists in 41 games. Henman's two goals over the weekend and a primary assist on the winning goal Wednesday night puts him at six goals and nine assists in 47 AHL appearances.
Ryan Winterton, the Kraken's 2021 third-round draft choice, continues his blazing trend for the Ontario Hockey League's Hamilton juniors club. Winterton scored a goal and added an assist in each of two Bulldogs wins last weekend. Hamilton leads the entire OHL in standings points (101) with a 48-12-3 record and will finish No. 1. The regular season ends this weekend.
Winterton has 19 goals and 26 assists in 35 games for a 1.3 scoring average per game since returning from a preseason shoulder injury. His range of scoring moves have been on display in recent wins, from one-timer to net-front tip to dekes to a backhand shot.
Another hot Kraken prospect and juniors team is Tye Kartye and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the OHL's Western Conference. The Soo scored 27 goals in the team's last four wins this past week, including Kartye's 43rd goal of the season in a 6-2 win Wednesday night.
Kartye notched six goals and three assists in the four games. The Greyhounds are on a five-game winning and have locked down the No. 4 seed in the OHL Western Conference playoffs.
Kartye, who signed his entry-level contract with the Kraken in March, leads the OHL in power play goals with 22 and is co-leader in game-winning goals (9). Kartye has 33 assists to go with the 43 goals for 76 points in 60 games.
Fourth-rounder and defenseman Ville Ottavainen is finished with his season in Finland's elite pro league but has been named to a U20 national squad competing in the Czech Republic this weekend. Fifth-rounder Jacob Melanson added a goal and an assist in three games this past week with Acadie-Bathurst Titan in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
