Game Preview: Checkers at Iowa (Oct. 24, 2014)

The Checkers hit the road to play their first divisional games of the season against the Iowa Wild on Friday and Saturday.

Despite a 1-4-0 record that includes consecutive losses to Grand Rapids at Time Warner Cable Arena last weekend, the Checkers currently sit third out of five teams in the West Division. That's because the two teams below them, Oklahoma City (0-2-1) and tonight's opponent, Iowa (0-4-0), are the only two AHL teams still looking for their first victories.

Following this weekend's trip, the Checkers return home to face the Hamilton Bulldogs on Oct. 31 (12 p.m. start) and Nov. 2 (1 p.m.).

Charlotte

The Checkers have been competitive in each of their games this season, having been tied or trailing by one entering the third period of all five. However, an area clearly in need of improvement is their ability to score goals. With just eight total, including back-to-back, one-goal showings against Grand Rapids, Charlotte ranks last in the AHL in terms of goals (1.60) and shots (19.8) per game.

“It’s something that we’ve got to keep working at,” said coach Jeff Daniels. “I think some guys that were hoping to score goals are getting closer and we’ve just got to squeeze some guys harder to get a little more offense out of them.”

“As a team we need to get more time in the offensive zone, just getting pucks deep and keeping it simple,” said rookie forward Brock McGinn. “Just get more pucks to the net and more bodies in front and they’ll start to go in for us. It’s definitely a little discouraging, but it’s a long season and you know you’re going to have these droughts sometimes.”

Though they knew going into the season that they’d likely be without all four of Zach Boychuk, Chris Terry, Brett Sutter and Aaron Palushaj, their top four scorers from last season, injuries in Carolina have also left them without the services of Victor Rask, Brody Sutter and Patrick Brown, while Justin Shugg is set to miss his second consecutive weekend due to injury.

Left with just 11 forwards at Thursday’s practice, including professional tryout signing Mike Aviani and three other rookies, Daniels plans to seek additional reinforcements before facing the Wild.

“I’m going to bring a couple guys in probably,” he said. “Some guys that have some experience that can hopefully help us this weekend. “

Update: The Checkers signed forward A.J. Jenks, who played 63 games with the Checkers over the last three seasons, to a professional tryout contract on Friday. Read more

Drew MacIntyre figures to see one game this weekend after playing in four of the team’s first five, with Daniels saying Thursday that he’d like John Muse (27 saves in a 2-1 loss in Chicago on Oct. 11) to play the other. In contrast to the turmoil up front, the Checkers retain the services of seven defensemen, including rookie Dennis Robertson, who recorded two assists on opening night but has sat out each of the last four as a healthy extra.

Iowa

The Wild feature a few names familiar to the Checkers and their players. Most notable is Brett Sutter, their former captain who signed a two-way deal with Minnesota over the summer.

Sutter, who ranks third on the Checkers’ all-time assists (86) and points (142) lists and is fourth in games played (255) and goals (56), has one goal in four games with Iowa.

While Sutter will most likely to miss the opportunity to play against his cousin Brody for the first time as long as the latter is with Carolina, Checkers winger Kyle Hagel will have the chance to square up against his brother Marc, a 26-year-old, second-year pro.

“He’s definitely got more skill to his game,” said Kyle, comparing himself to his younger sibling. “He can score goals and be a really good playmaker, but he definitely has a grit element too. In terms of forechecking and trying to pursue the puck, we’re similar, but he’s a little better skater than I am.”

After scoring 15 points in 46 games with the Wild last season, Marc Hagel has appeared in just one game this season – a 4-0 setback against Milwaukee in their most recent game.

Though no Wild skater has scored more than one goal, Jordan Schroeder, a first-round pick in 2009 who has spent parts of the last two seasons in the NHL with Vancouver, leads the team with five assists, including an AHL-best four on the power play. Another former first-rounder, Jonathon Blum (23rd overall in 2007) has chipped in three points (1g, 2a) from the blue line.

In goal, Johan Gustafsson has started three of four games, posting a 4.70 goals-against average and .845 save percentage – numbers significantly dented by giving up four goals on eight shots before giving way to John Curry on Oct. 17. Curry, a 30-year-old veteran, has a 2.51 goals-against average and .922 save percentage thus far.

Checkers Notes

Against the Wild

The Checkers and Wild evenly split last season's four-game series, with the road team winning each time and Charlotte winning each of the last two. The most recent meeting on March 25, a 7-0 victory for Charlotte, set or tied several Checkers records including largest margin of victory, most penalty minutes by the Checkers (86), most penalty minutes by their opponent (162) and most penalty minutes by both teams combined (248). Also during that game, Zach Boychuk set a franchise record with five points (2g, 3a).

Former Checkers captain Brett Sutter, who played for the team for most of its first four AHL seasons, is now an alternate captain for the Wild. Checkers forward Kyle Hagel and Wild forward Marc Hagel are brothers.

Starting On The Wrong Foot

Following consecutive loss to Grand Rapids last weekend, the Checkers now find themselves at 1-4-0, the slowest mark through the first five games since the team's inaugural campaign in 2010-11. The 2010-11 team, which went on to set franchise records for highest point total (97) and deepest run into the playoffs (Eastern Conference Final), didn't find its second win until the seventh game of that season.

The Checkers did not hold their first lead of the season until the first period of Saturday's 2-1 loss, holding it for 18:01 before Teemu Pulkkinen tied the game in the second. Saturday's loss also marked the fourth consecutive game in which the Checkers were outshot by 10 or more.

Lack Of Offense

The Checkers have recorded eight goals thus far this season, the lowest mark through five games in the team's history. The team has failed to register 20 shots in three of five games this season, and the 99 shots on goal and -79 shot differential are franchise-lows for the first five games of a season.

Charlotte currently ranks 30th in the AHL in terms of goals per game (1.60) and shots per game (19.8).

Depth Contributions

With a team-leading three assists, Brendan Woods has already matched his total from 42 games last season. He leads the team in assists and points (three), is tied for the lead in plus/minus (+2) and ranks second in penalty minutes (23).

With a team-leading two goals, Jared Staal has already matched his total from 50 games last season and is halfway to his career high of four set in the 2012-13 campaign. He currently has more goals than all of his brothers (NHLers Eric, Jordan and Marc) combined.

In The Crease

Drew MacIntyre became the first Checkers goalie to start four times in the first five games, going 1-3-0. MacIntyre, a 12th-year pro who appeared in 48 games for the Toronto Marlies last season, currently ranks third in the AHL with 136 saves and ranks firth in minutes played with 240:07. John Muse has appeared in one game this season, and holds the better goals-against average (2:04) and save percentage (.931).

Quick Hits

• The Checkers have been tied (twice) or trailing by one (three times) entering the third period of all five of their games this season.
• Forward Kyle Hagel ranks tied for fourth in the league in penalty minutes (29) and is tied for first in major penalties (three).
• The Checkers rank second in the AHL with 32 minor penalties.
• Charlotte is one of two teams (Oklahoma City) that has yet to score a third-period goal this season. Five of its eight goals have come in the second period.
• The difference between the Checkers' average shots taken and allowed (-15.8) is the largest of any AHL team, positive or negative.

Injuries

• Justin Shugg - missed two games starting 10/17

Milestones

• Brendan Woods is one shy of 50 AHL/professional games played
• Chad LaRose is two shy of 300 professional points
• Rasmus Rissanen is 10 shy of 250 AHL/professional penalty minutes
• Keegan Lowe is 10 shy of 100 AHL/professional penalty minutes
• Alex Aleardi is two shy of 50 AHL games played
• Beau Schmitz is two shy of 50 AHL games played

Transactions

Incoming

• Oct. 24 - (C) A.J. Jenks signed to professional tryout contract from Toledo (ECHL)

Outgoing

• Oct. 22 - (C) Brody Sutter recalled to Carolina (NHL) from Charlotte
• Oct. 19 - (C) Patrick Brown recalled to Carolina (NHL) from Charlotte