Game Preview: Checkers vs Cleveland (Jan. 13, 2017)

With a bumpy road trip in their rear view, the Checkers are back at home facing the Cleveland Monsters to kick off their longest home stand of the season. Here are 12 things to know about tonight's game:

1. WRAPPING UP THE ROAD TRIP

After their longest road trip of the season, a grueling eight-game trek over the holidays, the Checkers are back in the friendly confines of Bojangles’ Coliseum for an eight game stand on home ice.

That could spell good news for the Checkers as they have been a significantly better team at home. They are 8-4-0 at home while 6-16-2 on the road. Their offense has fared better at Bojangles’ Coliseum as well, averaged 2.67 goals per game compared to their overall average of 2.39, the worst mark in the AHL.

The Checkers will have to shake off their last series at home, however, as they were swept by Grand Rapids in mid-December by a combined score of 9-2.

2. NESTRASIL COMES ABOARD

The Checkers received a big boost this past week when Andrej Nestrasil cleared waivers and was assigned by the Hurricanes. The Czech forward has logged 123 AHL games in his career, mostly with the Grand Rapids Griffins, with his most productive AHL season coming in 2013-14, when he put up 36 points in 70 games.

Nestrasil has played 18 games this season with Carolina, only suiting up twice since Dec. 10.

3. GOALIE CAROUSEL

The Checkers’ goalie situation continues its ongoing rotation, with the tandem of Daniel Altshuller and Alex Nedeljkovic taking the helm. Nedeljkovic returned to Charlotte yesterday after playing three ECHL games for Florida at the end of December before being sidelined with an injury. Now cleared for action, the rookie netminder is back with the Checkers, leading the team to release Tuesday’s winning goalie C.J. Motte from his PTO.

Nedeljkovic’s last appearance came on Dec. 20, while Altshuller started the last two games before Tuesday’s win.

4. OFFENSIVE SPARK

Mired in a frustrating scoring drought, the Checkers finally broke through in their last contest Tuesday against the Admirals. They hung five goals en route to their big victory, with five different players lighting the lamp along the way. It marked the 12th time this season that the Checkers have scored more than two goals in a game, with each instance resulting in a win.

5. LEADING THE WAY

With each of them potting a goal on Tuesday, Valentin Zykov and Lucas Wallmark continue to share the team lead in goals with nine. While Zykov’s tally snapped an eight-game goalless drought, Wallmark has been on a roll, notching four goals in his last eight contests.

Both players are still chasing Andrew Poturalski for the team scoring lead, as the rookie has racked up 22 points on the year, including three in his last five games.

6. SPECIAL TEAMS STRUGGLES

The Checkers’ power play has had its troubles this season, ranking last in the league. Heading into Tuesday’s matchup, the Checkers were mired in a three-game slump, the third time they’d hit a drought of at least that length this season. As for the penalty kill, the Checkers entered that contest having allowed a power-play goal in five consecutive games and seven in their last 19 times shorthanded.

Things turned around Tuesday in Milwaukee on both fronts for the Checkers. They tallied two power-play goals on the night and killed off the only Admirals’ power play, breaking both skids.

7. DWYER FINDS HIS GROOVE

While the Checkers’ recent road trip was one to forget, the silver lining was the emergence of Patrick Dwyer. After recording three points through the first 24 games of the season, the veteran forward has caught fire as of late with five points in his last five games, including a goal in three of the last four.

8. START STRONG

The Checkers have struggled out of the gates of games this season, sporting a minus-24 goal differential, the single-period mark of any team in the league. The good news is that if the Checkers have been able to break past those struggles, it has been clear sailing. The team is 11-3-1 in games where they were leading or tied after one period

9. FINISH STRONG

On the flip side, the Checkers have been at their best at the end of games. The third period is the only frame in which the Checkers have a positive goal-differential, outshooting their opponents 30-22. They are also 12-3-1 in games where they held a lead or were tied after 40 minutes of play.

The good news for the Checkers is that they are going up against a Cleveland team that has been at its worst late in games. The Monsters only negative goal-differential has come in third periods, where they have been outscored 21-37.

10. AGAINST THE MONSTERS

Tonight marks the first time the Monsters have visited Charlotte, but the two squads met up for a two-game set in Cleveland right before the holiday break. Both were close contests, but the Checkers came away from the series emptyhanded, dropping both games.

In each game the Checkers were in a competitive spot late but couldn’t close the deal, tying the first game in the final five minutes before the Monsters quickly answered in the first game and pulling themselves from a 3-0 hole to within one in the third of the rematch.

11. RAMAGE ON A RAMPAGE

The Monsters’ offense has been aided by a bright spot on their blue line, as John Ramage has had the hot hand as of late. The fourth-year pro is tied for the team scoring lead among defensemen and has recorded six points in his last six games.

The blue liner has especially haunted the Checkers this season, racking up four points over the two-game set earlier in the season and earning himself AHL Player of the Week honors.

12. TUNE IN!

If you aren't able to make it to Bojangles' Coliseum for tonight's game, you can still tune in to hear Jason Shaya's call live, with the pregame show kicking off at 7.

You can also download the new Checkers App, available for both iPhones and Androids, for score updates and to play the new Top Line game!