Game Preview: Checkers vs Cleveland (Feb. 5, 2019)

The Checkers are back in action this week for a two-game series against the Cleveland Monsters, the first meeting between the two teams since 2017. Here is everything to know before pucks drops tonight.

1. NAILBITERS

The Checkers are coming off back-to-back low-scoring, tightly contested games, both of which saw them fall in overtime. The two overtime losses were the 22nd and 23rd times this season that the Checkers have had a game decided by one goal and just the eighth time that they have failed to pick up two points in the standings.

“We want to make sure we’re playing the game the right way,” said Vellucci. “I mean, we had 25 chances in the last game, we had great chances, we hit crossbars and posts, but sometimes it goes that way. But we just need to get to the net, pay the price and get those ugly goals. Sometimes we’re looking for the pretty one. But that’s the way the season goes, there’s times where we’ll put five or six up and help the goalies out, right now it’s the goalies who are helping us out. We just need to get back to scoring goals.”

Charlotte is currently 15-2-6 in one-goal games this season, giving the team the third-most wins and the fewest regulation losses in that scenario in the AHL. Despite the relative success in those tight games, the coaching staff is still aiming to keep morale high after several frustrating offensive results as of late.

“It’s up to me to keep it in a positive frame. If you’re getting chances, we play a lot of hockey games, sometimes you’re going to get bad breaks. If you’re getting 25 chances a night, you’re going to make those breaks. I’ll make sure to stay positive with them and show them the good things and make sure we’re all on the same page.”

2. STRONG BETWEEN THE PIPES

Despite the final outcome the Checkers got strong performances from both of their netminders over the weekend. Alex Nedeljkovic, who is slated to start tonight’s contest, made 29 saves on Friday to keep Charlotte’s late rally for a point afloat and, despite taking the overtime loss, still has just one loss since Dec. 2.

“It’s his commitment on and off the ice,” said Vellucci. “He’s a very determined person, he takes everything very seriously and he works extremely hard. We talked about how this year we wanted consistency and he’s brought it. He’ll be ready to go tonight.”

Scott Darling got the start on Saturday and turned in his strongest performance of the season, making 28 stops and playing over 60 minutes of shutout hockey until Providence notched the winner in overtime. By picking up a point in the standings Darling snapped a three-game losing skid.

3. OLD FOES

The Checkers and Monsters meet this week for the first time since Cleveland made the jump to the Eastern Conference this past offseason.

Having met several times when both teams were members of the Western Conference, the Checkers hold a 13-13-2 record against the Monsters all time. The most recent season in which the clubs met was 2016-17, when the Checkers came away with a 5-2-1 record during the season series. In fact, Charlotte has earned at least a point in the standings in each of the last six meetings with Cleveland.

“They’re a fast team and they’ve got some good players,” said Vellucci. “I know a lot of their guys from the OHL. I’m not sure if Gerbs [Nathan Gerbe] is going to be in tonight but he’s a really good, skilled player who played in the NHL for a long time. They’ve got some talent and we’ve got to make sure we’re ready to go and we play the game the right way.”

4. SCOUTING THE MONSTERS

This season the Monsters sit just outside of the North Division playoff picture in fifth place, six points behind Utica for the fourth spot but just two points ahead of last-place Belleville. They are 4-6-0 in their last 10 contests, with seven of those contests decided by just one goal, and are 1-3-0 in their last four while being outscored 21-10 over that stretch.

Cleveland has had a rough go on the defensive side of things this season, residing in the AHL’s bottom five in terms of goals-allowed per game. Their most recent stretch hasn’t helped those numbers, as the Monsters have surrendered at least four goals in six of their last eight contests and at least six in each of their last two. Cleveland has been running with three netminders as Brad Thiessen and Matiss Kivlenieks work their ways back from injury. Jean-Francois Berube has handled the bulk of the work load in the crease this season, including starting Cleveland’s most recent contest, though Kivlenieks got the nod for each of the two games prior to that one.

The Monsters have fared better on offense, though they are currently nursing some injuries to key weapons. Former Checker Zac Dalpe leads the team in goals and ranks second in scoring but has missed each of the last five games due to injury, while highly-skilled first-round pick Sonny Milano has missed seven of Cleveland’s last nine contests. Former Hurricane Nathan Gerbe has paced the Monsters offensively and leads a strong, experienced group along with Alex Broadhurst and Adam Clendening.

6. KUOKKANEN RETURNS

After missing the last four games due to injury, Janne Kuokkanen is slated to make his return to the lineup tonight. His injury-caused absence came on the heels of several NHL stints, so the forward has appeared in just 11 of the Checkers’ last 22 contests, with the team going 6-2-3 without him in the lineup.

“We only scored one goal this weekend and Kuoks is one of our top scorers so it’s good to get him back in the lineup and get him going,” said Vellucci. “The main thing is that he’s healthy now and he’s ready to go.”

7. OT STRUGGLES

After a strong start, the Checkers have hit a rough patch when it comes to games ending in overtime. They came out on top for seven of their first eight overtime games this season, but since mid-December the Checkers have gone 1-5 in overtime, including dropping each of their last four such contests.

The Checkers have had 14 games go beyond regulation this season, the third-highest total in the league. Charlotte has twice played in consecutive overtime games and have had seven of its last 20 contests go to overtime.

8. LOCKING IT DOWN

After a run of four straight games with at least four goals allowed, the Checkers have tightened up defensively as of late. Charlotte has held their opponent to two goals or fewer in each of the last three games, picking up four of six points along the way.

The stingy stretch also includes a perfect nine-for-nine performance on the penalty kill. The Checkers have now allowed five power-play goals in their last 47 times shorthanded over the past 13 contests, keeping themselves solidified as one of the AHL’s top-five penalty kills.

9. TUNE IN

You can tune in to tonight's broadcast with a subscription to the league’s new streaming platform AHLTV. Sign up here and catch the action on the road.

As always, the radio broadcast will be available via the Checkers app or this link, so tune in and tweet Jason Shaya to let him know you’re listening!