The Charlotte Checkers clinched a spot in the 2026 Calder Cup playoffs as the Springfield Thunderbirds lost 2-1 to Providence on Wednesday night.
The defending Eastern Conference champions will make the playoffs for the eighth consecutive time. They won the Calder Cup in 2019.
Charlotte currently sits in third place in the Atlantic Division and is one of six Atlantic teams to qualify for the Calder Cup Playoffs; the top two clubs will receive a bye to the conference semifinals, while the third through sixth-place teams will play a best-of-three first-round series.
The AHL's 2025-26 regular season ends April 19; for more information and daily updates on the Calder Cup Playoffs, check out the official AHL Playoffs Primer.
