QUICK HITS
BOUNCING BACK
The Checkers had rattled off a franchise record-tying nine straight road games with at least a point in the standings before falling in last Sunday’s trip finale. Even with that streak snapped, Charlotte is still 14-8-2-1 away from home this season and a staggering 10-2-1-0 on the road since Christmas.On the other side is a Utica squad that is 1-3-0-1 in its last five home contests.
LIGHTING THE LAMP
That loss on Sunday also snapped a run of 13 straight games in which the Checkers scored at least three goals. They still have a total of 12 tallies over their last three games, and the uptick of offense has propelled them to just outside of the top 10 offenses in the AHL.They’ll face a Comets team that ranks in the top half of the league in terms of goals allowed per game and has given up a single goal in each of their last two games.
AGAINST THE COMETS
Tonight marks the fourth and final time that the Checkers and Comets will square off during the regular season. Charlotte has had the upper hand thus far, posting a 2-0-1-0 record in those contests - the first two of which were decided by a single goal, while the most recent meeting in late January was a 4-0 shutout for the Checkers.The defensive side of things is where Charlotte has excelled against Utica this season, surrendering a total of five goals over the three games up to this point.
BUSY WEEKEND
Friday’s game marks the start of the Checkers’ third and final three-in-three of the season - and the second consecutive weekend to feature that scenario. Charlotte is 2-3-1-0 in three-in-three games this season, with both of its regulation wins coming in the middle leg of the run.QUOTES
Head Coach Geordie Kinnear on the keys to success this weekend"Obviously it’s a tough schedule coming up - we go back on the road for three and then it’s right back after it again - so we’re going to need our depth to be contributors and have a positive impact in all the games."
Checkers defenseman Lucas Carlsson on his goal-scoring surge
"We’ve been playing good as a team offensively. I think our power play is starting to come together. That’s a big part of it."
Checkers Assistant Coach Bobby Sanguinetti on the focus of this week at practice
"It’s a tough part of the schedule, so for us it’s just making sure we’re playing with structure, we’re connected as a group and we’re having discipline so we’re not taking a ton of penalties and playing tough minutes shorthanded. It’s a group effort - a five-man connection - and I’d say that’s the biggest thing. The other stuff comes with it."
COMING IN
CLT: 2-2-1-0 in last five gamesUTC: 3-2-0-0 in last five games
WHO TO WATCH
CLT
Gerry Mayhew - 4 points in last 3 gamesAleksi Heponiemi - 4 points in last 3 games
Lucas Carlsson - 4 goals in last 3 games
UTC
Jack Dugan - 4 points in last 2 gamesReilly Walsh - 5 points in last 4 games
Brian Halonen - 5 goals in last 5 games
TUNE IN
Tonight's game starts at 7 p.m. You can tune in to the broadcast with a subscription to the league’s streaming platform AHLTV.The radio broadcast will be available via the Checkers app on iPhone or Android.
Additionally, our friends over at Ed's Tavern on 2200 Park Road are going to be showing the game on their TVs!
