Game Preview: Checkers at Grand Rapids (April 12, 2017)

The Checkers are back on the road fighting for their playoff lives tonight in Grand Rapids. Here are 11 things to watch heading into the matchup:

1. PLAYOFF PICTURE

For the third time in four seasons, the Checkers’ playoff hopes are coming down to the very end of the regular season. As it stands now, the Checkers trail the Cleveland Monsters by one point but have played one fewer game, currently putting Charlotte in the final playoff spot by virtue of how the AHL standings are displayed. The Checkers kick off their three-game road trip to end the season tonight in Grand Rapids, while the Monsters begin their last two-game set against Manitoba tomorrow and Friday.

With 36 regulation/overtime wins (ROW) on the season, the Checkers have clinched the primary tiebreaker over Cleveland should the teams finish the season with an equal amount of points. With that in mind, the Checkers, who currently control their own destiny, would get into the playoffs by taking at least five of a possible six points this week, regardless of what the Monsters do. Otherwise, the Checkers will need to gather at least one more point in the standings over the week than Cleveland.

2. AGAINST GRAND RAPIDS

The Checkers head into a tough situation down the stretch, visiting the top teams in the Central Division to close out the season. The good news for Charlotte is that it has enjoyed some success this year against the perennial powerhouse Griffins. In six previous matchups this season, the Checkers have picked up the win in four of them, including each of the last two.

The key for the Checkers besting the Griffins this season has been keeping Grand Rapids’ lethal offense in check. Charlotte held the Griffins to four total goals in their four wins this season, not surrendering more than two goals in a single contest. By contrast, the Griffins put up three and six goals in their two victories this season.

3. GRIFFINS RELOADED

The biggest challenge for the Checkers heading into tonight’s game is this Griffins team doesn’t much resemble the team they last faced. With the Detroit Red Wings’ season over, they sent Grand Rapids a slew of reinforcements earlier this week, including co-leading scorers Ben Street and Matt Lorito, 40-point producer Tomas Nosek and top defenseman Robbie Russo.

The Griffins could use that boost to help what has been a tough end to the season. Although they’ve already punched their ticket to the postseason, Grand Rapids is 1-5-1 in their last seven games and only recorded more than two goals in one of those contests.

4. MCCOLLUM'S HOMECOMING

If things keep trending the way they have over the last month, Tom McCollum should be set to take on the Grand Rapids Griffins for the first time in his career this week. Selected in the first round by Detroit in 2008, the netminder spent his first seven pro seasons backstopping the Griffins, finishing the 2015-16 campaign as the franchise’s all-time leader in games played, saves and minutes.

McCollum departed from the Detroit organization as a free agent this past offseason and after being trapped as the third goalie on Stockton, the netminder has landed with the Checkers and helped turn the team’s season around. McCollum is 11-2-1 with Charlotte and has started 14 of the team’s last 15 contests.

5. ON THE ROAD AGAIN

After finishing off a wildly successful slate of home games this season with a 27-10-1 record, the Checkers will need to turn things around on the road in order to push their way into the playoffs. Charlotte is just 12-19-4 away from home this season, giving them the fourth-lowest road win total in the league.

The good news for the Checkers is that they seem to have found their groove on the road as of late. Prior to a 5-3 loss in Chicago, Charlotte had earned at least a point in the standings in seven consecutive games, picking up wins over formidable opponents like Cleveland and Grand Rapids along the way. The Checkers will have a chance to keep that hot streak rolling as they head into a pair of games in Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena, a building in which they have won four of their last five matchups dating back to last season.

6. POTTING POINTS

With a goal and an assist in Saturday’s win over Texas, Andrew Poturalski became just the second Checker in the last three season to reach the 50-point mark. The first-year pro is also just the second rookie in franchise history to reach the milestone, though he still trails Zac Dalpe’s team record 57 points from 2010-11. Poturalski is one of three rookies in the AHL to reach 50 points this season.

7. KING LUCAS

Poturalski wasn’t the only rookie who made waves this week, as Lucas Wallmark earned himself a spot in the Checkers’ record book with his 24th goal of the season. The tally moved Wallmark past Zac Dalpe for the most goals by a rookie in franchise history, a record that has stood since Charlotte’s inaugural 2010-11 campaign.

The Swede’s 24 goals this season are the third-most by any rookie in the league and the most by any Checker since 2013-14.

8. MILLER'S TIME

Over the course of the last few months, there have been few players in this league on more of an offensive tear than Andrew Miller. In fact, since he returned from an injury on Jan. 27, only three players in the AHL have recorded more points than Miller, who has racked up 31 points in his last 31 games. That outburst has given the forward 40 points on the year for the third consecutive season.

9. FLEURY TAKES OFF

Over the course of his first pro season, Haydn Fleury has become one of the Checkers’ top blueliners. Fleury’s 25 points, which rank second on the team currently, are the second most by a rookie defenseman in franchise history, trailing only Trevor Carrick’s 2014-15 season. The 20-year-old has only been a minus six times over the last 34 games, with his plus-16 rating standing as the best on the team and tied with the best mark in franchise history, set in 2011-12 by Justin Krueger and matched in 2012-13 by Zac Dalpe.

10. POWERING BACK UP

Though they still rank last in the AHL, the Checkers’ power play has seen a resurgence over the last few games. They have scored a power-play goal in eight of their last 12 games, including five on 15 chances over their last three contests. Charlotte’s current three-game streak ties the team’s longest this season, matching their run from Oct. 28 to Nov. 2.

The Checkers will face a tough test in Grand Rapids, as they’ll face a Griffins team that ranks 11th in the AHL in penalty killing and averages the third-fewest penalty minutes per game. On the flip side, the Checkers, who are the second-least penalized team in the AHL, will need to maintain their discipline to avoid facing the league’s best power play.

11. TUNE IN!

Make sure to tune in to Jason Shaya's call of tonight's game live from Grand Rapids via the Checkers app or online. The pregame show kicks off at 6:45.

You can also use the Checkers App to receive score updates and to play the new Top Line game!