Game Preview: Checkers at Hamilton (Feb. 27, 2015)

After two losses in Toronto, the Checkers hope to get the first victory of their road trip as they make their first-ever visit to Hamilton tonight.

The first of back-to-back meetings continues a season series that began with the teams splitting a pair of games in Charlotte back on Oct. 31 and Nov. 2. The AHL's least-succesful road team after three straight losses away from home, the Checkers will be looking to make up ground against yet another team looking to get back in the Western Conference playoff picture, while the Bulldogs hope to end a three-game losing streak.

Following tonight's game and tomorrow's same-time-same-place rematch, the Checkers return to Charlotte to play five home games in nine days starting Wednesday.

Charlotte

After experiencing their longest winning streak of the season, the Checkers have fallen back into old habits, dropping two consecutive three-goal games to Toronto. With three straight road losses under their belt, they will attempt to get back on track tonight.

The Checkers' offense, which has struggled throughout the season, saw a recent boost in production, scoring at least three goals in four straight games. That string of firepower was broken on Wednesday, however, as they could only muster up one goal, a power-play strike late in regulation to end Toronto goalie Christopher Gibson’s shutout bid.

Hot hands had carried the Checkers through their offensive breakout, with Brock McGinn and Alex Aleardi combining for 10 points in the four games prior to Wednesday’s loss. The rematch in Toronto saw both young forwards held off the score sheet and that, along with the absence of the injured Chad LaRose, hurt the Checkers' attack. In order to break out of this funk, those dynamic forwards will need to keep lighting the lamp.

The bright spot of Wednesday’s defeat was that Zach Boychuk seems to be finding his touch again. The franchise’s all-time goals leader has had an up-and-down stint with the Checkers this season since returning from the NHL, including being a healthy scratch for a big home game on Feb. 7. Since then, however, Boychuk has shown improvement, including notching four points in his last five games. In addition, Ben Holmstrom and Justin Shugg have recorded assists in each of their three games. If LaRose is forced to miss an extended period of time, the Checkers will need those players and more to chip in offensively to fill the void left by the scoring leader.

John Muse received the starting nod in the rematch against the Marlies after Drew MacIntyre allowed five goals on 38 shots the game before. But Muse, who entered the game on quite a tear, did not fare much better. Despite only seeing 22 shots, Muse gave up three goals, including two in the first six minutes of play to put his team in a hole. The loss snapped Muse’s three-game winning streak.

Aside from LaRose, another injured player who may be close to returning is defenseman Rasmus Rissanen, who has missed the last three games but is with the team on this trip.

Hamilton

Currently holding the ninth spot in the Western Conference, the Bulldogs need to break out of their recent slump in order to work their way back into the playoff picture. Hamilton has gone winless in its last three games, including a 5-2 drubbing at the hands of the North Division-leading Utica Comets.

Hamilton’s offense attack hasn’t been extraordinary this season, ranking in the bottom-third of the league in terms of goals per goal, but they certainly have some dangerous weapons on their roster. Former QMJHL standout Charles Hudon has torn up the league in his first season, leading all AHL rookies in scoring and ranking the top 10 overall. The first-year forward hasn't scored during his team’s winless streak, making that his second-longest drought of the season.

The duo of centers T.J. Hensick and Gabriel Dumont have aided Hudon on the offensive side of the ice, each holding a point total over 30. Daniel Carr, another rookie, has shown a solid scoring touch, leading the Bulldogs and ranking fourth among AHL rookies in goals. Former Checker Drayson Bowman has also pitched in for Hamilton, especially of late, putting up three points in his last four games.  

Rookie Mike Condon has grabbed control of the Hamilton crease, appearing in 32 games and registering a 17-12-3 record with three shutouts. The netminder out of Princeton University ranks fifth in the AHL in save percentage and has started 12 of the last 16 games for Hamilton. That stretch including a seven-game winning streak for the 24-year-old.

Checkers Notes

Against Hamilton

This weekend's games will conclude the four-game season series between the Checkers and Hamilton that is currently tied at one game apiece after the teams spit a pair of games at Time Warner Cable Arena on Oct. 31 and Nov. 2. Prior to this season, the teams had never faced each other despite being members of the Western Conference for each of the last three campaigns, making tonight's game the Checkers' first ever in Hamilton.

With Greg Nemisz (2g) out for the season and Chad LaRose (1g) missing Wednesday's game due to injury, it's possible that the Checkers will not dress a player who has a goal against Hamilton this season. Drew MacIntyre played both previous games, going 1-1-0 with a 1.51 goals-against average and .936 save percentage.

With Christian Thomas in the NHL with Montreal, Mac Bennett (2a) is the only Hamilton skater with multiple points against the Checkers. Goalie Mike Condon went 1-1-0 with a 1.51 goals-against average and .950 save percentage while starting both games against Charlotte.

MacIntyre, who led the team to the 2011 Western Conference final, and Kyle Hagel, a Hamilton native who played 67 games for the club in 2012-13, are both former Bulldogs. Hamilton forward Drayson Bowman played 130 games for the Checkers between 2010 and 2013, ranking seventh on the club's all-time list with 39 goals, and 176 games for the parent Carolina Hurricanes between 2009 and 2014. Bulldogs defenseman Bryan Allen played 101 games for Carolina between 2010 and 2012.

Home And Road

By sweeping a three-game home stand last week, the Checkers improved their record at Time Warner Cable Arena to 14-11-2 this season. Meanwhile, they have lost three consecutive road games and are now 6-17-4 on the road, with their 16 points earned away from home marking the fewest of any AHL team.

Important Games

The Checkers are nearing the end of a stretch in which 13 of 14 games played are against teams currently ranked between sixth and 15th in the Western Conference. Thus far during the stretch, which started Jan. 30 and ends March 5, the Checkers have posted a record of 3-7-0 against those teams. Two of the victories were against the only team trailing them in the conference, the Iowa Wild.

Brock's Breakout

After going 29 games without a goal (Nov. 30) and 20 games without a point (Dec. 29), Checkers rookie forward Brock McGinn has found the back of the net five times in his last five games (5g, 1a). McGinn has scored at least one goal in eight games this season, with the Checkers posting a 6-2-0 record in those contests.

McGinn, who scored 43 goals in his final junior hockey campaign with Guelph last season, has recorded two multi-goal games this season (Nov. 21 and Feb. 18). He is third on the team with 10 goals and ranks fourth with 19 points in 52 games, leading all Checkers rookies.

Welcome Back Alex

Since returning from the ECHL's Florida Everblades on Jan. 4, forward Alex Aleardi has posted 13 points (7g, 6a) in 17 games, including seven in his last seven (4g, 3a). Even though Aleardi did not dress for four games since that recall, he ranks second on the Checkers in scoring behind Chad LaRose (14 points in 20 games) during that time.

Aleardi, an undrafted forward who the Checkers signed to an AHL contract during the offseason, has 36 points (17g, 19a) in 74 career AHL contests with Springfield and Charlotte. He scored 19 points (8g, 11a) in 16 ECHL games with the Everblades this season.

Killing It

The Checkers have killed 14 consecutive penalties since allowing their most recent power-play goal in the third period of a game at Lake Erie on Feb. 16. It marks the third time the Checkers have gone five full games or more without allowing a power-play goal this season. The penalty kill's longest streak this season was a 25-for-25 stretch from Dec. 19-Jan. 7 that contained seven full games with no power-play goals allowed.

Charlotte's penalty kill ranks ninth in the league at 85.5 percent. The Checkers are tied for sixth in the league with seven shorthanded goals, which are two behind the league lead and four more than their AHL-low total from all of last season.

We Meet Again

This weekend's series against Hamilton marks the 22nd time the Checkers have faced the same opponent in two consecutive games this season. They are a combined 5-12-4 in the first halves of those series and are 11-9-1 in the second.

In those two-game series, the Checkers have won both games twice (against Milwaukee on Nov. 29 and 30 and agianst Iowa on Feb. 18 and 19) and have suffered five sweeps (vs. Grand Rapids on Oct. 17-18, at San Antonio on Nov. 14-15, at Oklahoma City on Nov. 21-22, vs. Chicago on Feb. 6-7 and at Toronto on Feb. 22 and 25).

Penalty Shot Party

Including one saved by John Muse in their most recent game in Toronto on Feb. 25, the Checkers have been involved in six penalty shot situations this season, tying their single-season record set during the inaugural 2010-11 campaign. In both seasons, those situations break down to four attempts for (with one goal scored) and two attemps against (with one goal scored).

In the three seasons between 2010-11 and this season, the team had been involved seven total penalty shot situations (three for, four against). Ben Holmstrom's goal in the team's first opportunity this season was the Checkers' first penalty shot goal since Jon Matsumoto scored against Oklahoma City on Dec. 20, 2011. A goal by Lake Erie's Troy Bourke against Drew MacIntyre on Feb. 12 marked the Checkers' first penalty shot goal allowed since Albany's Michael Swift scored against Justin Pogge on Jan. 7, 2011.

The Checkers were involved in two penalty shot situations in the same game for the first time in team history on Jan. 31 of this season, with Texas goalie Jussi Rynnas stopping attempts by Alex Aleardi and Zach Boychuk.

Quick Hits

• Kyle Hagel ranks fourth in the AHL in major penalties (16)
• Chad LaRose is tied for the AHL lead in shorthanded assists (3) and shorthanded points (4)
• Drew MacIntyre ranks second in the AHL in saves (1,008) and fifth in minutes played (2,055)
• The Checkers are the only AHL team that has yet to record a shutout

Injuries

• Chad LaRose - missed one game starting 2/25
• Rasmus Rissanen - missed three games starting 2/19
• Gabriel Desjardins - missed 22 games starting 1/4
• Greg Nemisz - missed 34 games starting 12/8 (out for season)

Streaks

• Chad LaRose has points in each of his last three games (Feb. 18-22: 2g, 2a)
• Ben Holmstrom has assists and points in each of his last three games (Feb. 19-25: 0g, 3a)
• Justin Shugg has assists and points in each of his last three games (Feb. 19-25: 0g, 3a)

Milestones

• Jared Staal is three shy of 50 pro points and two shy of 100 pro penalty minutes
• Justin Shugg is two shy of 100 pro penalty minutes
• Jared Staal played his 250th pro game on 2/25
• John Muse played his 100th AHL game on 2/25
• Ben Holmstrom played in his 300th AHL game on 2/22

Transactions

Incoming

• Feb. 22 - (D) Mike Cornell signed to PTO

Outgoing

• Feb. 21 - (D) Michal Jordan recalled by Carolina (NHL)