Game Preview: Checkers at Iowa (Oct. 25, 2014)

The Checkers return to the ice Saturday looking to string together back to back wins for the first time this season.

After dropping four of their first five games, the Checkers earned their first win in regulation this season with a 5-1 throttling of the Wild on the road in Iowa. The team sit in third place in the division, while the Wild are now the lone team in the AHL without a single point in the standings.

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

It has been a rough start to the season for the Checkers, especailly on the offensive side of things, but Friday saw the team finally break through.

Heading into their first divisional game, the Checkers have struggled mightily on offense, ranking last in the league in goals and shots per game. After scoring just eight goals through the first five games, the team nearly doubled that Friday, tallying five goals, each coming off the stick of a different player.

One of the main storylines with this team so far has been how they would replace the scoring they lost with the departures of players like Zach Boychuk, Chris Terry and Nicolas Blanchard. On Friday we finally saw some production from players that the Checkers will need to get going offensively in order for this team to succeed. Greg Nemisz, Phil Di Giuseppe and Chad LaRose all recorded a goal and an assist in the blowout, along with rookies Brock McGinn and Carter Sandlak notching the first goals of their professional careers. If the Checkers want to see more outcomes like they saw on Friday, they will need for these players to continue to put points on the board going forward.

Drew MacIntyre continues to be a force in goal, earning his second win of the season. MacIntyre, who ranks second in the AHL in saves, turned aside 26 of 27 shots he faced, as the Checkers were once again outshot, the fifth time in six games. Despite the strong play by MacIntyre, head coach Jeff Daniels mentioned earlier this week that he would like to get both goalies into games this weekend, so don't be surprised if John Muse gets the start tonight. Muse has made one other start this season, in Chicago, where he made 27 saves in a 2-1 loss.

Iowa

Following last night's 5-1 drubbing, the Wild are now the only team in the AHL without a single point in the standings, falling to 0-5-0-0 on the season.

Iowa's offense sputtered on Friday night, only breaking through for one goal on 27 shots. Leading scorer Jordan Schroeder was the lone Wild player to find the scoresheet, while other offensive leaders like Tyler Graovac and Michael Kernanen were held in check. Former Checkers captain Brett Sutter was held pointless and only registered one shot on goal in his first tilt against his longtime club. The Wild currently do not have any players with more than one goal, the only such team in the league, and have totaled a league-worst eight goals through five games played.

The Wild now find themselves at the bottom of the league in terms of goals per game at 1.60 and on a season-worst five-game losing streak.

In net, Iowa's tandem of Johan Gustafsson and John Curry has had a slow start. Both netminders have goals against averages above three and save percentages below .900, ranking them in the bottom 12 among AHL goalies in each category. Each has appeared in three games and are still in search of their first win.

Checkers Notes

Against the Wild

Charlotte took the first of eight games this season against Iowa last night. With that 5-1 drubbing, three of the five all-time matchups between the two squads have been decided by more than two goals. 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.

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. Sutter registered one shot and was held off the scoresheet in the first game. Checkers forward Kyle Hagel and Wild forward Marc Hagel are brothers. Marc did not dress for last night's meeting.

Righting The Ship?

After starting the season losing four of the first five games, the Checkers narrowly avoided the worst start in franchise history, set in the inaugural 2010-11 season, with a win over Iowa. 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.

Breaking Through Offensively

The Checkers set several franchise-lows in terms of offensive production throught the first five games, but seemed to be headed in the right direction with a five-goal performance against Iowa. That production pulled them out of the cellar in terms of goals per game, where they now sit at 24th.

The struggles continue in their shots on goal numbers, however, as the team ranks last in that category with 20.67 per game. The Checkers were outshot for the fifth straight game, but were able to break 20 shots for the third time in six games this season.

Depth Contributions

With another assist last night, Brendan Woods has already surpassed his total from 42 games last season and is halfway to his previous point total. He leads the team in assists, is tied for the lead in points (4) and plus/minus (+3) 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. Rookie Phil Di Giuseppe, coming off a two-point performance, holds a share of both the goal and point lead (2g, 2a).

In The Crease

Drew MacIntyre has started five of the first six games, the first instance in Checkers history going 2-3-0. MacIntyre, a 12th-year pro who appeared in 48 games for the Toronto Marlies last season, currently ranks second in the AHL with 162 saves and ranks third in minutes played with 300:07. 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 led (once), been tied (twice) or trailing by one (three times) entering the third period of all six of their games this season.
• Forward Kyle Hagel ranks tied for third in the league in penalty minutes (34) and is first in major penalties (four).
• The Checkers rank second in the AHL with 38 minor penalties.
• The difference between the Checkers' average shots taken and allowed (-13.5) is the largest of any AHL team, positive or negative.

Injuries

• Justin Shugg - missed three games starting 10/17

Milestones

• Rasmus Rissanen is 8 shy of 250 AHL/professional penalty minutes
• Keegan Lowe is 10 shy of 100 AHL/professional penalty minutes
• Alex Aleardi is one shy of 50 AHL games played
• Beau Schmitz is one 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