Owen Tippett scored a power-play goal and added two assists in the Charlotte Checkers 5-1 victory over the Springfield Thunderbirds at Bojangles Coliseum. Tippett was named First Star for his effort.
The Checkers, coming off an eight-game road trip that saw them go 4-4, scored three times in the first 12:33 of the tilt to take commanding lead in its first March home game.
Florida Panthers prospects Cole Schwindt and Aleksi Heponiemi combined on the first goal, with Schwindt cashing in on Heponiemi’s return pass at 2:14 after a Springfield turnover. That’s 16 goals for Schwindt, tops among the Kiddie Cats brigade.