Game Preview: Checkers at Milwaukee (March 19, 2016)

The Checkers hope to keep one of their busiest stretches of the season rolling as they play a rematch with the Admirals in Milwaukee tonight.

Here are 9 things to know about the match-up:

1. PLAYOFF PICTURE

Thanks to last night’s 2-1 shootout victory over Milwaukee, the Checkers were able to maintain their hold on a playoff spot by way of the AHL’s crossover rule, which allows the fifth-place team in the Central to qualify if it holds a better winning percentage than the fourth-place team in the Pacific.

It remains a tight race heading into tonight’s action, however. Should the Checkers lose, both Bakersfield and San Jose could pass them with wins in their respective games against Stockton and Iowa, respectively. Should the Checkers earn at least one point, they would be guaranteed of holding their playoff position regardless of other results around the league. Charlotte now has 13 games remaining this season.

2. MUSE ON A ROLL

John Muse stopped 29 of 30 shots and all four he faced in the shootout last night to extend his personal winning streak to five games – the longest by a Checkers goalie this season. Since the Checkers reacquired him from the Texas Stars in exchange for future considerations on Feb. 29, Muse, Charlotte’s all-time wins leader, has played in seven of a possible eight games, posting a 5-1-0 record, 1.51 save percentage and .936 save percentage. His five wins are two more than four other goaltenders were able to record in the 17 games immediately prior to Muse’s arrival.

3. SHOOTOUT SUCCESS

Friday’s win, in which Justin Shugg scored the only goal in four rounds to win the game, improved the Checkers to 6-3 in shootouts this season. They rank in the AHL’s top 10 in terms of both scoring (.346 percent – 8th) and goaltending (.833 – 5th) this season. Charlotte’s nine shootouts thus far are the second most in the AHL this season (Hershey – 10), with just six of their 15 total overtime games decided during the three-on-three period.

Muse, who picked up Friday’s win, has stopped all seven shootout attempt he’s faced since rejoining the Checkers, while Shugg (.455) is now 10-for-22 in his career. Both of Shugg’s goals this season (four attempts) were game winners.

4. OFFENSE UP, OFFENSE DOWN

Since totaling 15 goals in the first four games immediately following a busy AHL trade deadline, the Checkers have only been able to score one in their previous two games – Jake Chelios’ tally with approximately five minutes remaining to send last night’s game into overtime. Immediately prior to the AHL trade deadline, the Checkers endured another stretch in which they scored just one goal in a two-game stretch, a pair of losses to Grand Rapids on March 4 and 5.

5. SPECIAL TEAMS

The Checkers’ power play, which has ranked among the best in the AHL all season, has converted on just two of 39 opportunities (5.1 percent) over its last eight games. However, over that same time period, the penalty kill has negated 33 of opponents’ last 35 opportunities (94.3 percent).

6. MISSING PIECES

The addition of several new players has helped soften the blow caused by several injuries and recalls in recent weeks, though some of the casualties are those new additions themselves. Forwards Brock McGinn, Anthony Camara, Dane Fox, Valentin Zykov and defenseman Danny Biega all missed Friday’s game due to injury, while forward Brody Sutter and defenseman Trevor Carrick remain on NHL duty with Carolina. If no injured players are able to return tonight, the Checkers would have just one extra player – defenseman Nick Trecapelli, who awaits his professional debut after signing an ATO from the University of Guelph on Friday.

7. AGAINST THE ADMIRALS

Tonight marks the sixth of eight meetings between Charlotte and Milwaukee this season. Prior to last night’s victory, Charlotte had dropped three straight games against its Central Division rival, which it will play twice more after tonight to wrap up its home schedule at Bojangles’ Coliseum on April 9 and 10. Dating back to 2013-14, the Checkers are 2-4-0 in their last six visits to Milwaukee.

8. THREE IN THREES

This weekend’s games, including the current two-game set in Milwaukee and Sunday’s game in Rockford, mark the second and final time that the Checkers will have to play three games in three days this season.

Charlotte is 2-1-1 in games that are part of a three-in-three set this season, with both wins coming in game one. All-time, the Checkers are 50-33-11 in three-in-threes, including a 16-10-5 record in game two.

9. QUICK HITS

Justin Shugg is one point shy of passing Brett Sutter and taking sole possession of third place on the Checkers' all-time scoring list … The Checkers have now held their opponents to two or fewer goals in seven of their last nine games and are 23-3-0 in those situations … Chelios’ goal last night was his first since Jan. 8 (29 games) … Kyle Hagel ranks fifth in the AHL in penalty minutes (132) and first in major penalties (16) … Rasmus Rissanen is one shy of 50 career pro/AHL points ... Jake Chelios is one shy of 50 pro points ... David Wohlberg is six shy of 150 pro/AHL penalty minutes