Game Preview: Checkers at Utica (Nov. 8, 2017)

The Checkers’ tour of the northeast continues as they travel to Utica Wednesday, kicking off a tough three-game week. Here are nine things to know heading into tonight’s tilt.

1. HOT START

The Checkers are off to their best start in franchise history this season, acquiring 16 of a possible 22 points to begin the campaign. That eclipses the 2012-13 season when they nabbed 15 points through the first 11 games. Charlotte’s 16 points are the second-most in the AHL this season, while the two clubs with 18 points in the standings – Toronto and Lehigh Valley – have played one and two more games, respectively.

2. ROAD WARRIORS

The Checkers’ longest road trip of the season rolls on tonight against the Comets, the third game of a three-week, eight-game trek that takes up the majority of the month of November.

Whereas last season the Checkers were nearly unbeatable at home, this year’s version of the team has been impressive on the road. Charlotte is 6-1-0-0 away from home this season, tied for the most wins on the road league wide.

By comparison, the Checkers won 12 games on the road all of last season and didn’t pick up their sixth until Jan. 10.

3. LAST TIME

Tonight marks the third of four meetings between Charlotte and Utica this season. The two squads faced off in the Checkers’ most recent home series, splitting the two-game set.

The Checkers handled the Comets in the first contest, using a four-goal outburst in the second to roll their way to a 5-1 victory in the teams’ first meeting ever. Utica flipped the script the next night, however, netting five unanswered tallies to run away with a 6-3 win.

4. NED STAYS PERFECT

It was another start and another win for Alex Nedeljkovic last Friday as he stopped 28 shots against the Belleville Senators to move to 6-0-0 on the season. The second-year pro is just two wins shy of his season total as a rookie last year, a campaign that didn’t see him record his sixth win until Jan. 21 – his 19th appearance.

Two netminders have gone as long or longer before recording their first loss of the season – Michael Leighton, who started 6-0-0 in 2016-17, and Daniel Altshuller, who went 7-0-1 to begin the 2015-16 campaign.

5. EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE

After another outburst on Friday, the Checkers have now scored at least five goals in six of their 11 games played this season. Charlotte is putting up 3.91 goals-per game, the second-highest average in the AHL, and has the third-highest overall goal total this season, with the two clubs ahead of it – Laval and Lehigh Valley – having played two more games.

The Checkers reached the five-goal plateau 10 times during the entirety of last season.

6. Z CATCHES FIRE

Valentin Zykov set a career high in goals last season with 16, and looks to be well on his way to shattering that this year. The third-year pro has racked up a team-best seven goals through the first 11 games of this season, tying him for third in the AHL. With eight points in his last five games, Zykov has stormed his way to second on the club in scoring, trailing Lucas Wallmark by just one point.

Zykov’s seven goals are the second-most through the first 11 games of the season in franchise history, trailing only Drayson Bowman, who notched nine goals through the first 11 games of the 2012-13 season.

7. PHIL IT UP

Phil Di Giuseppe has found his scoring touch over the past few games and become a lethal offensive weapon for the Checkers. The forward has racked up six points over the last four games, giving him 10 on the year. That gives the 24-year-old, who has 87 points in 155 AHL games over four AHL seasons, his best point total through 11 games in his young career.

8. SCOUTING THE SENS

In the two weeks since the Checkers last saw them, the Comets have gone 1-1-1, splitting a pair of shootouts with Rochester and falling 2-1 to the Senators.

Utica’s strong point continues to be their stingy defense, logging the eighth-best goal-against average in the AHL. The good news for Charlotte, however, is that the goalie driving that strong defensive play, Thatcher Demko, is currently in the NHL with Vancouver. That hands the keys over to veteran Richard Bachman, who has made three appearances this season and gone 1-2-0. The Checkers have faced Bachman once this season and enjoyed success, netting five goals on 19 shots in a winning effort.

On the other side of things, the Comets are ranked in the bottom third of the league in goals-per-game. They have scored three or fewer goals in eight of their 10 games this season, though one of those exceptions was their six-goal outburst against the Checkers. Nikolay Goldobin continues to lead the way for Utica, logging five goals and 12 points through 10 games.

9. GET THE APP

The Checkers app got a fresh new set of paint during the offseason but functions just the same. Follow along with scoring updates as well as play the Top Line interactive game in order to win exclusive prizes.

You will also be able to listen to the radio broadcast via the app or this link. Jason Shaya’s pregame show starts 15 minutes prior to puck drop, tune in and tweet Jason to let him know you’re listening.