Game Preview: Checkers at Chicago (Jan. 3, 2017)

After a tough defeat in Manitoba to start the new year, the Checkers are in Chicago looking to notch their first win of 2017.

Here are 7 things to watch for in tonight's game.

1. ROAD WOES

The Checkers were finally able to shed their franchise-record 12-game road winless skid by topping the Manitoba Moose last Friday, but couldn’t keep that momentum going in the rematch, losing 4-1 in their most recent contest.

Charlotte is now 4-14-2 in their 20 road games, which are the most in the AHL. The Moose join the Iowa Wild as the only two teams that the Checkers have beaten away from home this season.

2. COMING IN HOT

Despite the team’s struggle, two players who appear to be trending up are Andrew Poturalski and Jake Chelios. The former has shaken off a slow stretch with six points in his last 10 contests, while the latter has doubled his point total with five points in his last eight games.

3. ROOKIES AT THE TOP

Speaking of Poturalski, the young forward’s 20 points through the first 32 games this season put him at the top of the Checkers scoring list. Following him close behind is fellow first-year pro Lucas Wallmark, who has come on strong to bring his point total to 16, including eight goals, which tie him for the team lead alongside Valentin Zykov.

4. SPECIAL TEAMS STRUGGLES

The Checkers have seen a bit of an upswing on the man advantage, marking a power-play goal in two of their last three games, but it hasn’t been enough to pull them out of the basement. Charlotte’s 11.2 power-play percentage ranks last in the AHL, 1.2% behind the next lowest mark.

While the penalty kill doesn’t rank quite as low, it has seen its fair share of struggles as of late. The Checkers surrendered multiple power-play goals for the fifth time this season Sunday in Manitoba and have now allowed three goals in their last seven times shorthanded. Over their last 40 times shorthanded across the last 12 games, the Checkers have allowed 10 goals, a 75% penalty kill over that span.

5. LEIGHTON'S CREASE

Since returning to Charlotte, Michael Leighton has made each of the last three starts in goal. Despite a bumpy 1-2-1 record since his return, Leighton still holds a goals-against average that ranks fifth in the AHL and a save percentage that is tied for fifth, as well as being accountable for eight of the team’s 12 wins this season. The other netminders who have suited up for Charlotte this season, Alex Nedeljkovic and Daniel Altshuller, are a combined 4-14-0 with a 3.44 GAA and .878 SV%.

Leighton has yet to drop consecutive games at any point this season.

6. AGAINST THE WOLVES

The Checkers have squared off twice so far this season with the Wolves, both coming on Charlotte’s home ice. The two squads split the series, with the Checkers winning a last-second thriller the first night before dropping the rematch.

Lucas Wallmark led the way for the Checkers in that two-game set, notching a trio of helpers, while AHL leading scorer Kenny Agostino torched Charlotte for four points (2g, 2a) over the two contests.

Between the pipes, the Checkers have seen both Pheonix Copley and Jordan Binnington, defeating the former while being stymied by the latter. Rookie Alex Nedeljkovic, currently with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades, had crease duties for both meetings with Chicago.

7. TUNE IN

Tune in to hear Jason Shaya's call live from Chicago tonight, with the pregame show kicking off at 7:45, and tweet at him to let him know you're listening!

You can also download the new Checkers App, available for both iPhones and Androids, for score updates and to play the new Top Line game!