QUICK HITS
BUSY WEEKEND
This marks the first three-games-in-three-days stretch for the Checkers this season. They encountered that scenario three times last season and posted a 3-6-0 record overall - with the best showing a 2-1-0 weekend and the worst a three-game skid.ON THE ROAD AGAIN
This is Charlotte’s second road trip of the season, and they’ll be looking to bank more points in the standings on this swing. Charlotte is still in search of its first road win of the year - though the team has scraped together some points away from home with an 0-1-1-1 record so far.CIRCLING BACK
The Checkers kick off the weekend with a visit to Providence before traveling to Hartford on Saturday and returning to face the Bruins on Sunday. This marks the second and third times that they have played those teams, respectively, with the Checkers holding a 2-0-1-0 record against the Wolf Pack thus far and an 0-1-0-0 record against the Bruins.SPARKING THE OFFENSE
The Checkers are coming off a 4-0 loss to the Syracuse Crunch last Saturday - just their second regulation loss of the season. It marked the first time that Charlotte has been shut out since March 25 of last season.They’ll be looking to break out of that slump against a Providence squad that has allowed the second-fewest goals per game in the AHL thus far, averaging just 2.18 goals against.
DYNAMIC DUO
Zac Dalpe picked up another two goals in Friday’s win, giving him a team-leading five so far this season. Dating back to last season and including the playoffs, Dalpe has registered 19 goals in his last 25 games wearing a Charlotte sweater.With a goal in Friday’s win, Logan Hutsko collected his fourth point over a three-game stretch. The sophomore forward sits tied for the team lead with seven points so far this season - having racked up all of those in the span of the last six games.
Going back over the last four games, six of Charlotte’s last seven goals have had either Hutsko or Dalpe factor into it on the scoresheet.
QUOTES
Checkers Assistant Coach Jared Staal on the focus of practice this week"A lot of breakouts, coming out of our zone cleaner. That was the big emphasis. When we do that we play a lot better and it helps our offensive game."
Staal on the key to kickstarting the offense
"Sometimes that’s a tricky subject. The main thing is that we’re getting the opportunities. They’ll fall eventually."
Staal on the last road trip
"It’s a good spot to be in tight games on the road. It’s more pressure on the home team, you’re just there to do your job as the road team. We’ll get more and more comfortable as we go along."
Staal on getting offensive production from the blue line "The whole system is that all five guys are an option. Being connected helps the offensive numbers of the defensemen because we always want them in the rush and jumping in. That’s really important to us and it’ll translate to the D getting more offense."
Staal on facing teams for the second and third time this season
"It helps but they also know some of your tendencies. Teams are starting to feel each other out and see some patterns and it’s easier for those pre scouts and tendencies to pick up on."
COMING IN
CLT: 1-2-1-1 in last five gamesPRO: 3-0-0-2 in last five games
WHO TO WATCH
CLT
Logan Hutsko - 7 points in last 6 gamesJustin Sourdif - 4 assists in last 6 games
Zac Dalpe - 3 goals in last 3 games
PRO
Connor Carrick - 3 points in last 3 gamesVinni Lettieri - 6 points in last 6 games
Luke Toporowski - 9 points in last 10 games
TUNE IN
Tonight's game starts at 7 p.m. If you can't be at the Coliseum, you can tune in to every broadcast this season with a subscription to the league’s streaming platform AHLTV.Additionally, our friends over at Ed's Tavern on 2200 Park Road are going to be showing the game on their TVs!
