Game Preview: Checkers at Manitoba (March 28, 2016)

The Checkers' seven-game, 14-day road trip comes to an end tonight in Manitoba as Charlotte looks to further their chances of making it to the playoffs.

Here are 9 things to know about tonight's tilt with the Moose:

1. PLAYOFF PICTURE

Saturday’s win over Manitoba combined with San Jose’s loss to San Diego last night has given the Checkers possession of the fourth playoff spot in the Pacific Division with a bit of a cushion behind them. The Checkers will remain in front of the Barracuda regardless of tonight’s result, and San Jose returns to action Wednesday against Ontario.

2. AGAINST MANITOBA

The Checkers’ continue to enjoy success against the struggling Moose this season, taking five of the seven meetings so far, including each of the last two. But despite Manitoba’s position in the standings, Charlotte’s 6-2 win on Saturday was hardly the norm, as three of the Checkers’ five wins over the Moose have been by one goal.

Derek Ryan continues to dominate the Moose, keeping his point-per-game pace and racking up six goals in seven games, while Austen Brassard leads Manitoba with seven points in as many meetings with Charlotte.

3. BETWEEN THE PIPES

The Moose have relied on the one-two punch of Connor Hellebuyck and Eric Comrie between the pipes this season. The pair of prospects have been impressive against the Checkers most of this season before Charlotte pumped in six goals Saturday night. Comrie started that game and took the brunt of the offensive attack, surrendering three goals on nine shots before being yanked from the game.

Comrie has now allowed at least three goals in each of his last three appearances in net, while Hellebuyck has allowed just four goals in his last four games. Immediately prior to that, however, he gave up 17 goals in three games.

4. MUSE STAYS HOT

John Muse continues to have full control of the Checkers’ crease, making his fifth straight start Saturday and improving to 7-2-1 since rejoining the team at the trade deadline. A fortunately spaced out schedule has given head coach Mark Morris the option to keep going with Muse, as Morris has steadfastly stood by his belief in playing the hot hand.

Should Altshuller get the start, it would be his first since March 15, when he turned in an

5. OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION

Coming off a four-game slump that saw the produce just five total goals, the Checkers’ offense has come back to life, following up a seven-goal outing last week in Chicago with a six-goal outburst Saturday in Manitoba.

The 13 goals are the largest two-game total for the Checkers this season. Nine different Checkers’ players have lit the lamp over the last four games, while only Derek Ryan and Jake Chelios scored in the previous four contests.

6. NEW GUYS DELIVER

A recall and injury-ravaged lineup forced the Checkers to do some more revamping going into Saturday’s contest in Manitoba. Charlotte added veteran blue liner Zach Miskovic and ECHL scorer Derek Arnold on professional tryouts, as well as former St. Lawrence University standout Brian Ward on an amateur tryout, all of whom made their Checkers debut Saturday.

It didn’t take long for them to make their mark, as Arnold assisted on the opening goal by Erik Karlsson, earning his first AHL point, and followed it up by lighting the lamp less than two minutes into the second for what would stand as the game winner. Miskovic jumped in on the action in the third, teaming up with Andrew Poturalski to set up Karlsson’s second goal of the night.

It is still unknown whether their services will be needed for tonight’s contest as well, as several of the injured players are on the trip and seemingly close to returning, though the team may wait until Friday’s return home to get those skaters a bit more recovery time.

7. THE CAPTAIN TAKES OVER

After slowing down a bit midway through his first season in North America, Derek Ryan has again caught fire and has become the driving force for the Checkers down the stretch.

The captain is currently in the midst of a four-game point streak, racking up nine points (4g, 5a) in that span. In fact, no player in the AHL has scored more points since March 19 than Ryan. This last burst has propelled Ryan back into the thick of the scoring race, where he currently sits tied for 11th in the league.

8. TOLCHINSKY FINDING HIS TOUCH

While navigating the ups and downs of his first pro year, Sergey Tolchinsky has come alive over this last stretch. He lit the lamp again Saturday, giving him goals in two straight games and points in three.

The Russian, who is now the seventh rookie in franchise history to score 30 points, has four points in his last three games, six in his last eight and 10 in his last 16.

9. QUICK HITS

Sergey Tolchinsky and Kyle Hagel each have goals in their last two games … Derek Ryan and Brendan Woods have assists in each of their last two games … Derek Ryan has points in each of his last four games … Sergey Tolchinsky is on a three-game point streak, while Brendan Woods, Kyle Hagel and Blair Jones are on two-game point streaks … Mike Cornell has recorded a penalty in each of the last three games … Charlotte has allowed three power-play goals in their last 52 opportunities over the last 12 games … The Checkers have allowed just one first period goal in their last six games … 29 of the Checkers 34 wins this season have come when they score three or more goals … Charlotte is 24-3-0-1 when allowing two or fewer goals … The Checkers have lost one game in regulation this season in which they led at either intermission