Game Preview: Checkers at Chicago (Oct. 17, 2015)

The new-look Checkers look to continue their hot start to the season as they take on the Chicago Wolves tonight. On the heels of Friday’s emphatic 7-2 win over the Milwaukee Admirals, this marks the Checkers’ second game in as many nights.

Here are 11 things to know heading into the game:

1. Best Start … Ever!

Friday’s win in Milwaukee, a place they had lost their last three games by a combined 16-4 dating back to April 2014, allowed the Checkers to start 3-0-0 for the first time in their six AHL seasons. Their three-game win streak matches their longest posted at any time last season (set twice), with all three streaks starting with two wins against Iowa. Charlotte has not won four in a row since March 25-30, 2014.

2. Road Warriors

This season’s Checkers have won three road games in three attempts. Last season’s Checkers did not win their third road game until Dec. 13, a span of 13 games. The Checkers have not won four in a row on the road since March 1-7, 2014.

3. Big Win

Though the Checkers were in control for the vast majority of Friday’s game, it was perhaps not as lopsided as the final score suggested as the visitors scored two empty-net goals and then added a power-play tally with two seconds remaining. Just moments prior to that, new coach Mark Morris had taken his timeout as the Admirals scored their second consecutive goal to make it 4-2 with 2:52 remaining – a situation similar to what the Checkers faced when coming back in Iowa last week.

Nonetheless, the Checkers’ five-goal margin of victory was their largest since defeating the Wild by a 7-0 score in Iowa on March 25, 2013. The Checkers had most recently scored seven goals on the road in last season’s finale at Grand Rapids, a 7-3 triumph.

4. Goals Galore

On paper, it seemed as though the Checkers would have a much easier time scoring goals than they did last season. That has translated to the start of the season, as Charlotte, which finished last season tied for 28th in the AHL with an average of 2.26 goals per game, now ranks second in the league with an average of 5.33 through its first three games (including one credited for a shootout win).

Led by Phil Di Giuseppe (1g, 3a) and Jaccob Slavin (4a), the Checkers currently have 10 players averaging a point-per-game or better. It took nine games for last season’s Checkers to score the 16 goals this season’s team has now.

5. Offensive Defensemen

The Checkers saw three different blueliners – Danny Biega (1g, 2a), Jaccob Slavin (3a) and Jake Chelios (3a) - record three points in Friday’s win over Milwaukee. It marked a single-game career high for all three players.

With four assists in three games, Slavin, who impressed at his first NHL training camp after deciding to leave Colorado College following his sophomore season, is tied for the league lead in scoring among defenseman. He leads all rookie blueliners in assists and points.

6. What Can Brown Do for You?

Checkers forward Patrick Brown’s two-goal effort on Friday marked his first multi-goal effort as a professional. The sophomore out of Boston College, who has moved from center to the wing thus far this season, has already matched his total of two goals in 60 games last season. One of Friday’s goals came shorthanded, meaning that three of his 12 career AHL points have come while down a man.

Friday’s shorthanded tally was the Checkers’ first on the road since Nov. 15 of last season (Greg Nemisz).

7. Against Chicago

The Checkers have an all-time record of 7-11-2 against the Wolves, including a 4-4-2 record in Chicago. Last season, the Checkers went 1-3-0 against the Wolves, with their lone victory coming by way of a Ben Holmstrom overtime winner in Chicago on Oct. 12.

The Wolves are 1-1-0 on the season, having defeated Milwaukee by a 5-1 score last week before succumbing to Texas by a 7-3 score at home last night.

8. Brock Busts Out

After scoring two goals in the Checkers’ first two games this season, sophomore winger Brock McGinn continued what could be a breakout season by scoring in his first NHL shift for Carolina on Friday. The Hurricanes went on to defeat the Detroit Red Wings 5-3 to record their first victory of the season.

9. Morris Climbs the Ladder

The Checkers’ 3-0-0 start has allowed coach Mark Morris to claim sole possession of ninth on the AHL’s all-time list with 341 career victories, passing current Anaheim Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau. Next up on Morris’ march to history are current Rochester Americans coach Randy Cunneyworth (352) and Robbie Ftorek (353).

10. Boychuk on the Cusp

Longtime Checkers sniper Zach Boychuk needs just three points to pass his longtime teammate, current Hurricanes forward Chris Terry, for the Checkers’ all-time scoring lead. Boychuk currently has 252 points, including two assists in three games this season. He is tied with Terry for first on the team’s all-time, power-play points list (112).

11. Random stats

Drew MacIntyre, who switched to No. 22 this season to honor his late uncle, has 22 saves in each of his victories this season … Erik Karlsson scored with two seconds remaining in Friday’s game. The contest marked his North American professional debut but also his 100th game as a professional … Di Giuseppe (1g, 3a) and Sergey Tolchinsky (1g, 2a) are the only Checkers to have a point in all three games this season … Keegan Lowe leads the Checkers with a plus-4 rating … Rasmus Rissanen is tied for third in the league with four minor penalties … The Checkers scored first in all three games this season … Despite holding a 16-7 on the season, the Checkers have a negative differential (two scored, three allowed) in second periods.