Game Preview: Checkers at Laval (March 23, 2018)

The Checkers are headed to Laval for the first time this season as they look to further solidify their place in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

1. PLAYOFF PUSH

The Checkers will be without several key pieces in this weekend’s visit to Laval.

Up front, rookie phenom Warren Foegele will miss Friday’s contest while he serves his one-game suspension for boarding, and Valentin Zykov, who was recalled by Carolina earlier this week, could miss both contests as the Canes are in action Thursday and Saturday. The good news is that the Checkers have been carrying several extra bodies at forward for much of this season, so two of those healthy extras – Sergey Tolchinsky, Zack Stortini, Nick Schilkey and Mike Ferrantino were all healthy scratches in last Sunday’s loss to Binghamton – will slide in to fill those lineup spots.

Charlotte’s blue line will be short some big names as well. Roland McKeown was recalled on an emergency basis on Wednesday as Noah Hanifin recovers from a concussion and, with the Canes playing Thursday and Saturday, could miss both games for Charlotte. Additionally, Josiah Didier will be out for the two-game set in Laval as he begins his three-game suspension for interference. Those losses left the Checkers with just five healthy options on the blue line, leading to the addition of Zack Kamrass (PTO) and Matt Finn (recall) from the ECHL’s Florida Everblades. Both blue liners The former is tied for the lead among Florida defensemen in goals a season after leading all Everblades blue liners in scoring, while the latter recently returned from injury after notching a 32-point season for ECHL Missouri last year.

“It’s tough but it’s something we just have to work through,” said Brenden Kichton on Charlotte’s backend being shorthanded. “Gans has played well for us so we know that we can use him back there. We just need to focus on being smart and not taking too long of shifts so we can stay a little fresher. we all need to talk onus that we all need to be a little better in the D zone and play smart.”

“It’s just part of the game,” said captain Patrick Brown of the Checkers missing several players this weekend. “We’re going to stay focused and maybe some of the guys who haven’t been getting as much ice time will get better looks this weekend and hopefully they make the most of it.”

2. PLAYOFF PICTURE

An even 2-2-0 stretch last week has kept the Checkers in the fourth and final Atlantic Division playoff spot. With 77 points, the Checkers hold a seven-point lead over Bridgeport, though the Sound Tigers have played two fewer games.

The Checkers have 10 games remaining on their schedule, six of which will be played on the road, while the Sound Tigers are on the road for seven of their remaining 12 contests. Bridgeport will continue to hold a game in hand over the Checkers until their second-to-last game of the season, the day before closing out the regular season against Charlotte.

Needless to say, these two contests in Laval are huge for the Checkers.

“We need wins,” said Kichton. “That second game against Binghamton was critical, I feel like we needed to win that one. But coming into Laval for two, these are crucial games for us.”

Playing in games with big playoff implications has been the status quo for the Checkers over the last few years, so the players are well aware of what it takes to come out on top.

“It just comes down to buying in,” said Brown. “Everyone’s playing for the team right now, no one is playing for themselves. That allows us to win games in tight situations and we’re going to continue to do that.”

3. SCOUTING THE ROCKET

Laval enters this weekend on the outside of the North Division playoff picture looking in. The Rocket currently sits in fifth place but trail the final playoff spot by 16 points with 11 games remaining.

The team’s biggest deficiency has been on the defensive side of the game, where Laval has the second-worst goals against per game average in the AHL, evidenced by surrendering at least four goals in eight of its last 10 contests. Charlie Lindgren has taken the majority of the action between the pipes for Laval this season, but as of late the team has leaned on the duo of Zachary Fucale and rookie Michael McNiven.

Laval’s offense has been a brighter spot. Despite ranking in the bottom half of the league, the Rocket possess plenty of firepower, most notably in the form of longtime Checker Chris Terry, who ranks second in the AHL in both goals and points.

“Laval is a good team, but we think if we bring our game we’ve got a great chance,” said Brown. “Our goal is to go to Montreal and get four points.”

4. LAST TIME

The Checkers and Rocket have squared off twice this season, with both contests coming in a two-game set at Bojangles’ Coliseum in mid-December. The first contest saw the Checkers notch a goal in each period while stifling the Rocket’s attack en route to a 3-1 win, while the rematch was an offensive explosion in which the Checkers rallied with three third-period goals to top Laval 7-5.

Lucas Wallmark has had the best go of any Checker against the Rocket this season, racking up five points in the two tilts, while Terry leads the way for Laval with four helpers.

5. ON THE ROAD AGAIN

The Checkers are back on the road where they have had their fair share of struggles this season. While they have been one of the league’s top teams on home ice, the Checkers are stuck at .500 away from Bojangles’ Coliseum, including going 4-8-2 since the calendar flipped to 2018.

“I don’t know,” said Kichton on the difference between the team’s play at home and on the road. “We like being home. Our fans are good, they treat us well. But we need to find a way to bring that momentum on the road with us.”

The good news for Charlotte is that they head into this weekend winners of two straight and three of their last five on the road and are facing a Laval with just 10 home wins this season, the second-lowest total in the AHL.

“I don’t think we’ve been significantly better or worse either way,” said Brown. “The road is always harder just historically for any team. But I think we’ve been playing good hockey, we just have to be more consistent. Make sure we’re bringing it all every night.”

6. WELCOME BACK WALLMARK

Since returning from his most recent NHL stint, Lucas Wallmark has been lights out for the Checkers. The Swede has notched at least one helper in every game since returning to Charlotte, racking up 10 points in his last six AHL games. That surge has rocketed Wallmark to 46 points (14g, 32a) in 40 games this season, which comes out to a 1.15 points per game average. The franchise record (assuming 10 or more games played) is 1.08 points per game, set by Zach Boychuk in 2010-11.

7. MCKEGG STANDS TALL

Since being acquired at the NHL trade deadline, Greg McKegg has been a consistent source of production for the Checkers. In nine games in a Charlotte sweater, the forward has racked up nine points (4g, 5a), including at least one in eight of those contests.

8. GET THE APP

The Checkers app got a fresh new set of paint during the offseason but functions just the same. Follow along with scoring updates as well as play the Top Line interactive game.

You will also be able to listen to the radio broadcast via the app or this link. Jason Shaya’s pregame show starts 15 minutes prior to puck drop, tune in and tweet Jason to let him know you’re listening.