Game Preview: Checkers vs. Chicago (Feb. 7, 2015)

The Checkers hope to make it a successful conclusion to Pink in the Rink Weekend as they host the Chicago Wolves for the second of back-to-back games tonight.

Friday's game did not go as hoped, with the Wolves scoring three times in the second period to build an insurmountable 4-0 lead. Charlotte was only able to grab one goal back in the third, ensuring that the Wolves (2-0-1) would take at least one point in each game of the season series that concludes tonight.

Following tonight's game, from which their pink jerseys will be up for auction to benefit various non-profits that support the fight against women's cancer, the Checkers travel to Lake Erie for two games next week.

Charlotte

The Checkers enter tonight’s rematch with the Wolves mired in a three-game skid since the All-Star break. Over that stretch, they have been outscored 13-3, making it the most lopsided stretch they have encountered this season, and one shy of becoming their longest losing streak of the season.

As has been the case all season, the offense has been essentially absent for this stretch. The Checkers’ top three scorers, excluding the injured Brendan Woods, have combined for just one point during these three games, and the team came within five minutes of being shut out in consecutive games for the first time in franchise history.

The bright side of that coin could be that the Checkers fired 40 shots on goal during last night’s loss, marking their third-highest total this season. But as head coach Jeff Daniels mentioned after the game, the quality of those looks were subpar, and the Checkers never seemed to truly be a threat to put one past Chicago goalie Jordan Binnington until it was too late.

The Charlotte power play unit continued its struggles last night, getting blanked on three attempts, including one in the final moments of the third period right after Brody Sutter broke up the shutout and the team was looking for a spark. On the other side, their substantial penalty kill, which has spent the majority of the season ranked in the top 10 in the AHL, suffered one strike on four attempts, with Adam Burish finishing a nice drop pass from former Checker Jeremy Welsh for what would hold up as the game-winning goal.

Goaltending has arguably been the brightest spot for the Checkers so far this season, but last night was not an indication of that. Although he wasn’t working with much help from his corps of defensemen, Drew MacIntyre surrendered four goals on 20 shots through the first period and was chased from the game. John Muse stepped in and looked strong, especially during an early barrage of offense from the Wolves. A cold Muse, who hadn’t seen any action since Jan. 22, turned aside all 11 of the shots thrown his way, keeping Chicago at bay as the Checkers searched for a rally.

With Woods missing his fourth straight game due to injury, the Checkers inserted PTO-signee Jason Bast into the lineup, and that will most likely be the situation for tonight as well. Daniels shuffled his lines several times throughout the game and that method will likely carry into tonight’s game, as the Checkers desperately search for the spark they need to halt their skid.

Chicago

After dropping four of five games heading into last night’s tilt, the Wolves rebounded in a big way, catapulting themselves back into the playoff picture over the idle Texas Stars.

The Wolves' top-end talent led the way in last night’s blowout, with three of the four goals coming from players that rank in the team’s top five in scoring. Shane Harper got things started with an early goal to extend his point streak to eight games, tying him for the longest active streak in the AHL, while Pat Cannone tallied an assist to give him 15 points in his last 14 games.

Recent addition Adam Burish also lit the lamp, giving him a four-game point streak (3g, 2a) and Philip McRae notched his fourth point in three games. Even without young phenom Ty Rattie, the Wolves offense is lethal, ranking near the top of the AHL. Chicago also proved to be deadly on the man-advantage, as their third-ranked power-play unit struck against the Checkers for what would prove to be the game winner.   

In goal, Jordan Binnington continues to be the workhorse for the Wolves, as an injury to Matt Climie has forced Chicago to ride Binnington for nine straight starts. Although the Checkers’ attack was not especially dangerous, they rattled off 40 shots on Binnington, who turned aside a personal season high of 39. The netminder has recorded a point in three of his last four starts.

The Wolves will be looking to gain more ground in the playoff race with a win tonight as they wrap up this road trip before returning home for a seven-game home stand.  

Checkers Notes

Against Chicago

Tonight's game concludes the four-game season series between the Checkers and Chicago. Including a 4-1 victory last night, Chicago has taken points from each meeting this season (2-0-1). Charlotte holds an all-time record of 7-10-2 against Chicago, including a 3-6-0 mark at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Charlotte has four skaters in Alex Aleardi (1g, 1a), Ben Holmstrom (1g, 1a), Keegan Lowe (2a) and Brendan Woods (2a) that are tied for the team's head-to-head scoring lead with two points apiece. Meanwhile, Terry Broadhurst paces the Wolves with three points against the Checkers (1g, 2a).

In goal, Drew MacIntyre (1-1-0, 3.10 goals-against average, .921 save percentage) and John Muse (0-1-0, 1.44 GAA, .950 SV%) have each played two games against the Wolves. Jordan Binnington has played two games against the Checkers, going 1-1-0 with a 1.48 GAA and .946 SV%, while backup Niklas Lundstrom has never faced Charlotte.

We Meet Again

This weekend’s series against Chicago marks the 18th time the Checkers have faced the same opponent in two consecutive games this season. Including Friday's loss, they are a combined 3-11-4 in the first halves of those series and 10-6-1 in the second.

In those two-game series, the Checkers have won both games once (against Milwaukee on Nov. 29 and 30) and have suffered three sweeps (vs. Grand Rapids on Oct. 17-18, at San Antonio on Nov. 14-15 and at Oklahoma City on Nov. 21-22).

Tough Break

The Checkers' 4-1 loss to Chicago on Feb. 6 marked their third consecutive regulation loss since returning from the AHL's All-Star break, tying two previous instances for their longest regulation losing streak of the season (Nov. 21-26, Dec. 8-12). Over the course of their current streak, opponents have out-scored them by a cumulative 13-3 score, marking the largest differential, positive or negative, of any three-game stretch this season. Prior to the All-Star break, the Checkers had earned points in seven of their last 10 games (5-3-2).

Coming off the similary long holiday break from Dec. 22-26, the Checkers posted a four-game winless streak at 0-3-1. They had earned points in four of their previous five games (3-1-1).

The Checkers have not suffered four consecutive regulation losses since a franchise-record, seven-game skid from Nov. 2-19 of last season.

LaRose Takes Over

While recording a six-game point streak (3g, 3a) that came to an end on Jan. 31, Chad LaRose took sole posession of the team scoring lead with 25 points (12g, 13a). The alternate captain has put up 14 of those points in his last 19 games (8g, 6a). In addition to being the team's overall points leader, he also leads the team in shorthanded points (three - t-4th AHL) and is tied for second in power-play points (six). He also leads the team in shots on goal (122), having topped the seven-shot mark twice in his last three outings.

LaRose's point streak marked the Checkers' longest of the season, eclipsing his own previous five-game run and another by Ryan Murphy, both of which occurred in December. It also tied the longest of his professional career set during his previous AHL season (4g, 7a for Lowell between Nov. 18-26, 2005).

LaRose, a 32-year-old veteran of 508 NHL games with Carolina, is playing in the AHL for the first time since 2005-06 after taking last season away from hockey. He now has 109 points (53g, 56a) in 172 career AHL games with Lowell and Charlotte.

Killing It

The Checkers have negated 28 of their opponents' last 30 power plays (93.3 percent) over their last seven games dating back to Jan. 16. During that time, they have risen to ninth in the AHL with a season-long percentage of 85.6.

The Checkers have also been able to produce offense while shorthanded, as evidenced by their six shorthanded goals that rank tied for fifth in the league and are two more than their league-low total from all of last season. Chad LaRose has been their most productive shorthanded player with a team-leading three points while shorthanded (t-4th AHL).

Lack Of Firepower

After totaling just three goals in their last three games, the Checkers have fallen back to the AHL cellar in terms of total goals (98) and goals per game (2.13). The Checkers, along with Toronto, are one of just two teams in the AHL with two or fewer 20-point scorers on their roster (Chad LaRose and Justin Shugg). LaRose's 25 points are tied for the second-lowest for a team-leader in the AHL.

The Checkers also rank last in the league on the power play with a season-long percentage of 9.4, including an 0-for-12 slide in three games since returning from the All-Star break.The lowest recorded power-play percentage for a season in AHL history is 10.4, set by the Rochester Americans in 2001-02.

Overtimes

Six of the Checkers' nine overtime games this season have been decided prior to the shootout. Charlotte is 1-5 in those games, tying it with Texas (2-10) for the lowest winning percentage in games decided during the seven-minute period. Meanwhile, the Checkers are 2-1 in the shootout.

Including their most recent overtime in Norfolk on Jan. 21, the Checkers gave up the tying goal with less than 3:30 remaining in regulation in four of their last five overtime losses.

Quick Hits

• The Checkers have allowed three goals in a period three times in their last five games.
• Saturday's loss marked the third time the Checkers have taken over 40 shots in a game this season, all of which have taken place in their last nine games since Jan. 13. They are 1-1-1 in those games.
• Charlotte is the only AHL team that has yet to record a shutout.
• Since returning from an ECHL stint on Jan. 3, Alex Aleardi has six points (3g, 3a) in nine games.
• Kyle Hagel is tied for the AHL lead in major penalties (15).
• Chad LaRose is tied for the AHL lead in shorthanded assists (3) and is tied for fourth in shorthanded points (3).
• Drew MacIntyre ranks third in the AHL in saves (887) and minutes played (1,818).

Streaks

• None

Injuries

• Brendan Woods - missed three games starting 1/30
• Gabriel Desjardins - missed 13 games starting 1/4
• Greg Nemisz - missed 25 games starting 12/8 (out for season)

Milestones

• Drew MacIntyre is one shy of 450 professional games
• Phil Di Giuseppe is one shy of 50 AHL/professional games
• Zach Boychuk is one shy of 150 AHL assists
• Justin Shugg is four shy of 100 professional penalty minutes
• Rasmus Rissanen is five shy of 300 AHL/professional penalty minutes
• John Muse is two shy of 50 AHL wins
• Ben Holmstrom played his 300th professional game on 2/6
• Kyle Hagel recorded his 950th pro penalty minute on 1/30

Transactions

Incoming

• Feb. 6 - (C) Jason Bast signed to professional tryout contract from Idaho (ECHL)

Outgoing

• None