Asplund’s heroics helped the Checkers go up 2-0 on the Bears in the best of five Atlantic Division Finals. A goal from Luke Philip early in the first helped the Bears take a 1-0 lead, but Charlotte shut them down from there and set the stage for Asplund’s late game break out.

John Leonard’s unassisted, short-handed goal was the difference for Charlotte. Game 2 of the Checkers’ series against the Hershey Bears is Saturday at Bojangles Coliseum.