Game Preview: Checkers vs Hartford (Feb 14, 2018)

After a convincing sweep of Springfield over the weekend, the Checkers are looking to keep the home-ice advantage rolling as they welcome the Hartford Wolf Pack to Charlotte for the first time this season.

1. OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION

After going through a relatively lean period in January, the Checkers’ have reclaimed their spot as one of the league’s premier offensive teams by scoring five or more goals in five of their last six games. Over the course of their active three-game winning streak, they have out-scored their opponents by a combined 18-2 margin. For the season, the Checkers rank second in the league with an average of 3.53 goals per game, trailing only Manitoba. They have hit the five-goal mark 20 times.

2. DEFENSIVE SHUTDOWN

Alex Nedeljkovic has recorded consecutive shutouts for the first time in his career, giving him an active shutout streak of 124:25 heading into tonight’s rematch with Hartford. This marks the second consecutive season that a Checkers goaltender has recorded consecutive shutouts, with Michael Leighton setting the franchise record at 192:02 last season. Following last night’s exploits, Nedeljkovic, who has played in each of the Checkers’ last 10 games (eight starts), is tied for the AHL lead in both wins (21) and shutouts (4).

3. SHOOTING GALLERY

Last night’s game set several shots records for the season, with the Checkers setting new marks for most taken (45) and fewest allowed (15). The defensive performance came one shot shy of tying the franchise record of 14 that was set against Rockford on Nov. 3, 2016. Last night, Charlotte also tied a season mark for fewest shots allowed in the single period by limited Hartford to just two in the first.

4. BACK ON TRACK

The Checkers, who went 4-9-2 over a 15-game stretch immediately following the holiday break, have points in five of their last six (4-1-1). After falling out of a playoff spot on Feb. 2, their current run has seen them jump back into fourth place in the Atlantic as they are six points clear of fifth-place Bridgeport with one additional game played. The three-game winning streak that the Checkers bring into tonight’s contest is their fourth of the season and one shy of their season-high of four that they have set on two separate occasions.

5. MILLER TIME

Andrew Miller recorded his second consecutive three-point game last night, extending his point streak to five games (5g, 6a) and solidifying his spot as the AHL’s new scoring leader. With 51 points in 51 games, Miller is now four points clear of Lehigh Valley’s Phil Varone for the league’s top spot. Now in his fifth pro season, Miller has already set a career high in assists (36) and is nine points away from matching his career high for points that he set in 63 contests with Oklahoma City during the 2014-15 campaign.

6. VALENTIN'S DAY

Valentin Zykov extended his league lead by scoring his 25th of the season in last night’s game. Zykov, who also leads the league with 14 power-play goals, has six points (2g, 4a) in his last two games and now ranks tied for 11th in league scoring with 41 points in 45 outings.

7. SPREADING THE LOVE

Nine different players accounted for the 13 goals that the Checkers poured in over their last two games, with only Lucas Wallmark, Valentin Zykov Janne Kuokkanen and Andrew Poturalski recording multiples goals with two each. In the team’s six games since Feb. 3, the Checkers have seven players averaging a point per game or better (Miller, Wallmark, Kuokkanen, Zykov, Aleksi Saarela, Philip Samuelsson and Clark Bishop).

8. HOME COOKING

Last night’s victory gave the Checkers six wins in their last seven home games, including a four-game win streak at home that marks their longest of the season. They are now 16-8-0 on home ice this season, putting them one off the league lead for home wins currently held by Lehigh Valley. Last season, the Checkers set a franchise record with 27 home wins, which were tied for most in the league.

9. SPECIAL TEAMS SURGE

Over the last four games, the Checkers have gone 6-for-21 on the power play (28.6 percent) and 15-for-16 on the penalty kill (93.8 percent). Charlotte has recorded at least one power-play goal in nine of its last 12 games, converting 13 of 51 opportunities during that time (25.5 percent).

10. 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.

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.