Game Preview: Checkers at Lehigh Valley (March 8, 2019)

The Checkers are back on the road to face off against their division rivals the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Here is everything to know before pucks drops tonight.

1. FURIOUS FINISH

The Checkers spent the last week preparing for a matchup in Lehigh Valley while enjoying one of their sparsest stretch of games of the season. In fact, Charlotte has only played four times over the last 18 days.

“When haven’t played a lot over the last few weeks and we needed the rest but we wanted to work on our skill too,” said Vellucci of the team’s focus at practice this week. “So we did that for the first couple of days and then [Wednesday] was more about our neutral zone play. We want to make sure we’re focused on our forecheck and our regroups.”

While the Checkers are surely itching to get back into game action, this lull comes at a good time as this weekend’s series in Lehigh Valley signals the end of that down time and kicks off a jam-packed end of the season. Starting with next weekend’s set against Rochester, the Checkers will have no more than three days between games.

“It’s a long year and with so many first and second-year guys, it’s a grind for them,” said Vellucci. “I want to make sure they get the proper rest but also work hard. We go short for practices but very hard. We went for 35 minutes [Wednesday] for the team portion and then guys did 15 or 20 minutes on skill. It was a good day of practice.”

2. POWERING UP

After a bit of a dry spell, the Checkers’ power play has come to life as of late. Charlotte matched a season high by notching three power-play goals in last Saturday’s win over Binghamton and has now converted four times over its last 12 man advantages. Heading into this weekend in Lehigh Valley, the Checkers have power-play goals in consecutive contests for the first time since mid-January.

“We got some players back, which is key,” said Vellucci on what has turned the power play around. “But we started shooting more. I think every one of those goals went straight in or was deflected. We’ve got to shoot more, we’re looking for the perfect play too much.”

The Checkers will be put to the test this weekend as the Phantoms sport the league’s top penalty kill.

“I’ve been talking about it for the last two months, the guys see it, they understand,” said Vellucci. “You go through some spells where things get a little tough on the power play but as long as you’re getting your chances I’m happy. Our percentage maybe hasn’t been great but we’ve scored a lot of power-play goals. I’m happy with that.”

3. KILLING IT

That’s not the only special teams unit clicking for the Checkers, as they continue to excel on the penalty kill. After holding the Devils off the board for the entirety of the weekend Charlotte has not allowed a power-play goal in four straight games, killing off each its last 13 penalties and 20 of its last 21.

“Obviously [assistant coach] Ryan [Warsofsky] has the guys buying in,” said Vellucci of his team’s PK success. “Our forecheck on the penalty kill has been outstanding, we haven’t let them get in very easy and set up. That’s the key part of it. If you can manage that part of it, we’ll continue to do well. We’ve used some different guys that have bought in and want to be a part of the penalty kill.”

4. NEW NET TANDEM

The Checkers cleared out their crowded crease this week by moving AHL-contracted Jamie Phillips to the ECHL’s Reading Royals to make room for Callum Booth to go join Jeremy Helvig on the Florida Everblades. That leaves the new tandem in Charlotte as Alex Nedeljkovic and recent acquisition Dustin Tokarski.

Nedeljkovic continues to carry the bulk of the work between the pipes, ranking third in minutes played, sixth in goals-against average and leading the league in wins, but the addition of a seasoned veteran like Tokarski should prove to be beneficial, even in a backup role.

“It’s his experience,” said Vellucci of the biggest boost Tokarski brings. “He’s played in the NHL, he’s won a Calder Cup, he played in the World Juniors, he’s won a Memorial Cup, he’s been a part of winning teams. That experience I think will rub off on the guys.”

5. FAMILIAR FOE

The Checkers and Phantoms have squared off four times thus far this season, with a staggering four more games on the horizon. Charlotte has picked up three wins and a point in all four contests with their division rivals, including a big weekend sweep just two weeks ago.

The four meetings this season – all of which have featured Nedeljkovic between the pipes – took on a physical edge, something that is likely to carry over with four more matchups over the last 17 games of the season.

“They’re tough in their building,” said Vellucci. “They’re an older and more experienced team and I expect to see the same out of them. We know them and they know us. No secrets.”

6. RIGHTING THE SHIP

After a little bump in the road that saw them pick up just two regulation wins over a 10-game stretch, the Checkers appear to have gotten themselves back on track. Charlotte has won four in a row, outscoring opponents 19-6 over that run, and have picked up wins in five of their last six games. The Checkers, who have sat atop the league standings for nearly the entirety of the season, now boast a points percentage above .700 for the first time since Feb. 6.

7. POTTING THE POINTS

Andrew Poturalski had a monster game against the Devils Saturday, picking up two goals and two assists for his second four-point effort of the season. The forward, who has set career highs in assists and points thus far and is one away from hitting his high mark for goals, has now posted the 10th most points in a single season. Poturalski is the 12th skater in franchise history to hit the 55-point mark and just the third since 2013-14.

With 17 games to go in the regular season, Poturalski is chasing Zach Boychuk and Chris Terry’s 2013-14 campaign in which they registered the top-two highest point totals of 74 and 69, respectively.

8. BEAN BREAKS OUT

With his seventh multi-point game of the season on Saturday, Jake Bean continues to put together an outstanding first pro season. Having already set franchise records for most goals, assists and points by a rookie defenseman, Bean is now zeroing in on more spots in the record book. His 35 points are the 10th most by any rookie in team history and his 24 assists are the sixth most, while his 11 goals are tied for the second most in a single season by a blue liner, trailing only Mark Flood’s 13-goal campaign in 2013-14.

9. TUNE IN

You can tune in to tonight's broadcast with a subscription to the league’s new streaming platform AHLTV. Sign up here and catch the action on the road.

As always, the radio broadcast will be available via the Checkers app or this link, so tune in and tweet Jason Shaya to let him know you’re listening!