Game Preview: Checkers at Manitoba (March 9, 2017)

The Checkers are back on the road for a pivotal pair of games against their division foes, the Manitoba Moose, as they look to climb back into the playoff race. Here are 9 things to know about tonight's game:

1. AGAINST THE MOOSE

The Checkers have had the Moose’s number during the season series, holding a 4-2-0 record, but Manitoba has pulled off wins in two of the last three meetings and earned at least a point in four of the last five. Each team has a lopsided 4-1 win under their belts, but three of the six matchups this season have been decided by just one goal, with two of those ending in overtime.

Jake Chelios has had the hot hand for Charlotte against the Moose this season, piling up seven points (1g, 6a) in six games, while the team-leading tandem of Lucas Wallmark and Andrew Poturalski have put up four and three goals in those six games, respectively.

On the other side, the three-pronged attack of Chase De Leo, Kyle Connor and JC Lipon have paced the Moose against the Checkers, with De Leo’s five points leading the way.

2. MCCOLLUM COMES ABOARD

It’s been a busy few days for the Checkers’ roster, and when they take the ice tonight in Manitoba they’ll be sporting a new look.

The biggest splash came yesterday at the AHL trade deadline, when Charlotte acquired netminder Tom McCollum on loan from Stockton. The native New Yorker was selected in the first round of the 2008 draft by Detroit and has spent the majority of his career with the Grand Rapids Griffins, a franchise with which he holds the all-time games played, minutes played and saves records and ranks second in wins.

The 27-year-old McCollum hasn’t seen much game action this season – he appeared in relief for one game with the Heat, otherwise serving as the third goalie on the roster, and played five games in the ECHL with the Adirondack Thunder – but has been a strong track record in the AHL. Just a year ago with the Griffins, McCollum appeared in 30 games and registered a career-best save percentage.

The veteran netminder joined the team in Manitoba after his acquisition and, with Alex Nedeljkovic being sent to Florida Wednesday, is the other healthy goalie on the roster alongside Daniel Altshuller as of now.

3. NEW LOOK

Aside from a new face between the pipes, the Checkers’ lineup will have some marked differences in Manitoba. Valentin Zykov earned his first NHL recall Wednesday, joining Patrick Brown on the Hurricanes. The Checkers also assigned Mitchell Heard, who recently recovered from an injury, to the Everblades, where he lit the lamp in his debut Wednesday. The Checkers pulled one reinforcement up from the ECHL to offset those losses though, recalling rookie forward Clark Bishop.

With Patrick Dwyer not quite ready to return from his ailment, the Checkers will head into this two-game set with 13 available forwards.

4. PLAYOFF PICTURE

Two losses against Bakersfield last weekend threw a wrench into the Checkers’ playoff push, but they’re still in the hunt.

Charlotte currently sits in sixth place in the Central with 56 points. Iowa, who has played one more game than the Checkers, holds the final playoff spot with 62 points and is visiting the Texas Stars this weekend, while Cleveland hangs onto fifth place with a date in Chicago tonight and San Antonio on Sunday. On the other side, the Moose are quietly within striking distance of the Checkers, trailing them by just two points, but have played two more games than the Checkers.

5. SINKING DEFENSE

After entering last week with the eighth-best defense in the AHL in terms of goals-against per game, the Checkers have had a stretch that has plummeted them to 18th. Charlotte has allowed 21 goals over the last four games and 37 over the last nine, surrendering at least four goals in seven of their last nine games as well.

6. FRESHMAN PHENOM

With 21 points in his last 22 games and six goals in his last nine, Andrew Poturalski is continuing to establish himself as one of the league’s top rookies.

The 23-year-old now has 42 on the season, tying him for second among all AHL rookies. The player currently tied with him, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Jake Guentzel, is thriving in the NHL and hasn’t played in the AHL in nearly two months. Poturalski’s biggest competitor for the rookie scoring crown is current leader Daniel O’Regan, who sits seven points ahead.

While Poturalski chases the rookie scoring lead, he also has a spot in the record books in his sights. The forward already has the second-highest point total by a rookie in franchise history, and needs 15 points in the final 19 games to match Zac Dalpe’s record of 57, set in 2010-11.

7. SPECIAL TEAMS STRUGGLES

After a seemingly breakout performance of three goals in two games in early February, the Checkers’ power play has fallen back into a rut. Charlotte is scoreless in 21 man advantages over the last eight games, with its league-worst percentage dipping to 10.5. The lowest power-play percentage for a full season in AHL history is 10.36.

On the other side, the Checkers were able to halt the tail spin that their penalty kill had been stuck in by successfully killing the lone power play Bakersfield was awarded last Sunday. Prior to that, the Checkers had surrendered five power-play goals in 14 opportunities over three games.

8. SPECIAL TEAMS

Throughout nearly the entire season, the Checkers have been a different team at home and on the road. Their eight wins away from home are the second-fewest in the AHL, while their 18 losses are tied for the most.

The team has made some progress on the road as of late, however. After a 1-12-2 stretch, the Checkers have gone 4-3-1 in their last eight road contests, alternating wins and losses every other game. Charlotte’s last outing on the road was a 5-4 overtime loss to Milwaukee, giving the team points in two straight games away from home. The Checkers have not established a three-game point streak on the road this season.

9. TUNE IN!

You can tune in to hear Jason Shaya's call live from Manitoba tonight! Pregame show kicks off at 7:45.

You can also download the new Checkers App, available for both iPhones and Androids, for score updates and to play the new Top Line game!