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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In front of the biggest crowd (8,667) for a Charlotte Checkers game in Bojangles Coliseum history, the Checkers and visiting Abbotsford Canucks gave hockey fans a thrilling Game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals.
Unfortunately, the home fans saw the Checkers lose, 4-3 in double overtime, and in controversial fashion.
The teams traded goals in the first ten minutes of the third period, but Charlotte took a lead into the first intermission when Oliver Okuliar found net with 0.6 seconds on the clock, giving the Checkers a 2-1 advantage.
Charlotte went up 3-1 in the second period on a Justin Sourdif banger, but Abbotsford tied the game with two more goals in regulation.
BIGGEST CHECKERS CROWD IN THIS BUILDING’S HISTORY
Y’all are unbelievable- all 8,667 of you ❤️ pic.twitter.com/vAiHzWGarm
After a scoreless first overtime period, the teams battled it out in a second overtime, and that’s where some chaos ensued.
On a faceoff, Abbotsford knocked the puck past its own goaltender, who did not appear ready. The Checkers appeared to have won the game.
But the officials convened, and did not count the goal because the goaltender was not set.
“They deemed the goalie wasn’t ready. It is what it is,” Checkers coach Geordie Kinnear said. “You can’t get too high or too low, you just move on.”
Charlotte will host Game 2 on Sunday at 4 p.m.
RELATED: Watch the Charlotte Checkers Calder Cup Finals here
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