FIVE STORYLINES
BUCKING THE TREND
The Checkers have fallen into a pattern over the last five games, alternating wins and loses in each. In fact, the Checkers have recorded consecutive wins just twice this season - Oct. 17 and 22, the former of which came against the Penguins.The Penguins sit even with the Checkers in the Atlantic Division standings - both squads boast a .500 points percentage despite Wilkes-Barre/Scranton having played two more games. After a hot 4-1-0-0 start to the season, the Penguins have hit a rough patch as of late, entering the weekend with four consecutive losses in the rearview mirror.
FAMILIAR FOE
This two-game set isn’t the first time that the Checkers and Penguins have squared off, as Charlotte has already visited Wilkes-Barre/Scranton once before this year. On Oct. 17 - the second game of the season, the Checkers handled the Penguins 4-1 to pick up their first victory. The difference in that contest was a quick barrage by the visitors, with Charlotte scoring three unanswered over the first half of the middle frame, and Joey Daccord making a stellar 26-save debut.SPECIAL TEAMS SPLIT
The two sides of Charlotte’s special teams have been trending in opposite directions as of late. The power play has found a spark over the last run of games, with the Checkers going 3-for-their-last-7 on the man advantage and recording a power-play tally in each of the last two contests. They’ll look to keep that hot streak rolling against a Penguins kill that ranks in the bottom half of the league and has struggled coming into the weekend. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has surrendered a power-play goal in each of its last four games, with opponents going 7-for-14 on the man advantage over that stretch.On the flip side, Charlotte’s penalty kill finds itself in a bit of a rough patch, having given up a power-play goal in each of the team’s last three contests. They’ll have a chance to reverse their fortunes against the Penguins, however, as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton squad is scoreless in it’s last 26 man advantages over the last four games.
HUTSKO'S HOT START
Logan Hutsko continues to impress early on in his first pro season. The rookie forward has posted nine points (3g, 6a) in nine games, tying him for second on the team and ranking 10th among all AHL rookies. After picking up a goal in last Saturday’s win and an assist in the rematch, Hutsko has now recorded a point in eight of his first nine games as a pro. Looking ahead, the highest point total by a Checkers rookie through the first 10 games of a season is 10 - set by Victor Rask in 2013-14 and matched by Andrew Poturalski in 2016-17.SCHWINDT STAYS SCORING
Cole Schwindt has found his scoring touch over this last stretch of games and continues to fill up the scoresheet. The rookie forward picked up his first two points of the season at Hartford on October 30 and has notched a point in every game since. Schwindt has racked up five points over that four-game point streak, including lighting the lamp in three of them.COMING IN
CLT: 2-3-0-0 in last five gamesWBS: 1-4-0-0 in last five games
WHO TO WATCH
CLT
Cole Schwindt - 5 points in last 4 gamesKole Lind - Assists in three straight games
Aleksi Heponiemi – 4 points in last 2 games
WBS
Jordy Bellerive – Points in three straight gamesSam Poulin – Goals in two straight games
Nathan Legare – 2 points in last 3 games
TUNE IN
Tonight's contest starts at 7:05 p.m. in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and as always you can listen to the game for free via the Checkers app on iPhone or Android. You can also watch via the league’s AHLTV service.And new for this season, our friends over at Ed's Tavern on 2200 Park Road are going to be showing the game on their TVs!
