Greg Carey scored with 1:43 left in regulation to give Lehigh Valley a 2-1 win over Charlotte in the opener of the Atlantic Division Finals on Friday night at PPL Center.
The Phantoms host Game 2 of the best-of-seven series on Saturday night (7:05 p.m. ET).
Carey one-timed a feed from Corban Knight past Alex Nedeljkovic for his third goal of the postseason just six seconds into a Phantoms power play after Valentin Zykov was whistled for his third minor penalty of the night.
Greg Carey gives the @LVPhantoms a late lead in Game 1.#LVvsCHA pic.twitter.com/tKVIQRKmRR
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 5, 2018
Zykov had given the Checkers a 1-0 lead at 15:26 of the first period with his second goal of the playoffs.
Alex Krushelnyski answered for the Phantoms at 6:17 of the second frame with the first goal of his Calder Cup Playoff career.
Alex Lyon (3-1) made 29 saves for Lehigh Valley, which handed the Checkers their first loss since Mar. 30, snapping a 10-game winning streak.
Nedeljkovic (3-1) stopped 30 of 32 shots on the night for Charlotte.
Atlantic Division Finals – Series “I” (best-of-7)
A1-Lehigh Valley Phantoms vs. A3-Charlotte Checkers
Game 1 – Fri., May 4 – LEHIGH VALLEY 2, Charlotte 1
Game 2 – Sat., May 5 – Charlotte at Lehigh Valley, 7:05
Game 3 – Tue., May 8 – Lehigh Valley at Charlotte, 7:00
Game 4 – Wed., May 9 – Lehigh Valley at Charlotte, 7:00
*Game 5 – Sat., May 12 – Lehigh Valley at Charlotte, 6:00
*Game 6 – Mon., May 14 – Charlotte at Lehigh Valley, 7:05
*Game 7 – Tue., May 15 – Charlotte at Lehigh Valley, 7:05
*if necessary… All times Eastern
