Here are seven things to know about the game:
1. ON THE ROAD AGAIN
The rest of this Central Division Semifinal series will take place in Chicago, home of the regular-season division champion Wolves. Though it had the worst road points percentage of any AHL playoff team during the regular season (.408), the Checkers did finish the campaign by earning points in 10 of their last 11 road games (4-1-5) dating back to Feb. 18. The team’s only regulation loss during that time period came at Chicago on April 2.2. AGAINST THE WOLVES
Including Friday’s 3-2 defeat in Game 2, the Checkers have only lost three games in regulation since March 9 (14-3-4), all three of which were against Chicago. Charlotte went 2-5-1 against the Wolves during the regular season, making Chicago one of just three teams (Bakersfield, Milwaukee) that they posted a losing record against this season. The Wolves won all four regular-season games in Chicago this season, one of which was in overtime. Charlotte’s last victory in Chicago was on March 23, 2016.3. TIED AFTER TWO
Of the five playoff series that the Checkers have played since entering the AHL for the 2010-11 season, this is the fourth to be tied 1-1 after the first two games. Charlotte won two of the three previous series, though it suffered a lost in its most recent occurrence against Oklahoma City in 2013. The Checkers, who have made the playoffs three times in seven AHL seasons, are looking for their first series victory since defeating Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the second round of the 2011 posteseason.4. TOP GUNS GET IT DONE
The Checkers’ top line of Lucas Wallmark, Andrew Miller and Valentin Zykov has accounted for four of the Checkers’ six goals in this series, including four consecutive tallies starting with Wallmark’s strike in the second period of Game 1 and ending with Miller’s goal in the second period of Game 2.Wallmark, who led the Checkers with 24 goals, a franchise record for a rookie, during the regular season, leads all Calder Cup Playoff skaters with four points and is tied for the lead with two goals heading into today’s games. Miller, who has 35 points (11g, 24a) in his last 36 games since returning from injury on Jan. 27, is tied for second among AHL skaters with three points (2g, 1a). Charlotte’s team records for scoring in a series are three goals (set four times previously), five assists and eight points (both set by Zac Dalpe in 2011).
5. MAJOR PLUS
Of the six players currently tied for the playoff lead with a plus-5 rating thus far, five are Charlotte Checkers. The forward line of Miller, Wallmark and Zykov and the top defensive pairing of Trevor Carrick and Jake Chelios all sport that number, as does Syracuse Crunch forward Tye McGinn.The Checkers have had some combination of that forward line and defensive pairing on the ice for five of their six goals this series, with the Wolves yet to score when any of those players are on the ice.
6. MCCOLLUM GETS IT DONE
Tom McCollum’s 1.53 goals-against average and .945 save percentage each rank third among playoff goalies and first among those that have played more than one game. McCollum, who has now played 19 of a possible 20 games since the Checkers acquired him on loan from Stockton on March 8, now has a combined 12-3-5 record, 2.04 goals-against average, .928 save percentage and two shutouts as a Charlotte Checker.7. EVEN STRENGTH
Neither team has yet to score on the power play this series, with both teams going 0-for-3 thus far. The teams combined to receive just one opportunity in Game 2, with the Checkers not capitalizing on Jordan Schmaltz’s second-period tripping infraction.Though Chicago scored 251 goals to Charlotte’s 212 during the regular season (+39), the gap between even-strength goals is much smaller (182 to 166: +16).
