CHARLOTTE (Interstat) — The Charlotte Checkers will host the Springfield Thunderbirds on Friday in a minor league hockey game.

Springfield enters with a 2-4 record, while Charlotte is 4-2. The Thunderbirds are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Jakub Stancl had a goal and an assist on three shots in that game, Calle Rosén added a goal and an assist on two shots, and Marc-André Gaudet had an assist and four shots. Stancl also recorded five shots in the previous game against Lehigh Valley. Springfield’s other results this season include a 6-3 loss to Lehigh Valley, a 2-1 overtime loss to Charlotte, a 5-2 loss to Laval, a 2-0 win at Providence and a 3-2 overtime win at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Springfield’s wins came at Providence and at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Stancl is the player to watch for Springfield. In his recent performances, he had one goal and one assist with three shots against Lehigh Valley, five shots in the prior meeting with Lehigh Valley, one shot in a win at Providence and one shot in a win at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Charlotte enters after a 4-2 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack. Cooper Black made 33 saves on 35 shots, Brett Chorske had a goal and four shots, and Jack Devine had a goal and four shots. Black is the player to watch for the Checkers. In his recent performances, he stopped 33 of 35 shots in the win over Hartford, 27 of 31 in a loss at Providence and 30 of 32 in a win at Hershey. Charlotte’s other results this season include a 2-1 win over Hartford, a 2-1 overtime win at Springfield, a 6-2 loss at Providence, a 3-2 loss at Hershey and a 5-2 win at Hershey. Charlotte’s wins came over Hartford twice, at Springfield and at Hershey.

In the most recent head-to-head meeting, Charlotte won 2-1 in overtime at Springfield. Springfield’s upcoming schedule includes another game at Charlotte, home games against Providence, Hartford and Hershey, and road games at Providence, Hartford and Charlotte. Charlotte’s upcoming schedule includes another game against Springfield, road games at Colorado and Iowa, and home games against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Providence. Charlotte also has two home games against Providence and two home games against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Interstat’s game simulator is projecting a final score of Charlotte 5, Springfield 2. Charlotte has been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The over/under for this game is 5.5.