THREE STORYLINES
POWERING UP
After striking in both contests against Toronto, the Checkers have now recorded a power-play goal in 10 of their last 11 games and 10 straight games in which they were awarded at least one power play. Charlotte is 14-for-37 over that stretch, a hot streak that has catapulted the team into the third spot in the AHL’s power-play rankings. This weekend they’ll face a Hartford squad that ranks eighth in the AHL in PK success and has killed each of their last nine times shorthanded.MISSING IGOR
The Wolf Pack are without one of their biggest weapons this weekend, as the AHL’s top-ranked netminder Igor Shesterkin is currently in the NHL. The Russian goalie has been stellar for Hartford, recording a win in each of his last six appearances while surrendering seven total goals. Replacing him is the tandem of Adam Huska and former Checkers Tom McCollum. The former has five wins in his last eight outings, but has given up at least three goals in five of his last six appearances and at least four in three of his last five. McCollum has only made four appearances this season and has allowed five goals on his last 29 shots.GEEKIE GOES STREAKING
With a goal and an assist against the Marlies last Saturday, Morgan Geekie has run his point streak to 11 games. That stands as the longest active such streak in the league and is tied for the fourth-longest in the AHL this season. It also sits one shy of the franchise record of 12, set by Ryan Murphy in 2014 and matched by Greg McKegg in 2018.COACH'S QUOTES
Head coach Ryan Warsofsky on this six-game home stand"It’s huge. You could probably say that this is the biggest stretch of our season here. It’s make or break. You don’t want to panic but our guys know the desperation needs to be there. But we can’t look at the whole homestand. Our group is focused on that first shift tonight."
On Hartford's style of play
"They like to play offense, that’s for sure. They like to go vertical, they’re a team that looks to stretch and get up ice as quickly as they can. They don’t want to play a lot of time in their own end. So we need to make sure we pressure their defensemen."
On the thin lineup up front
"It’s important that we get guys stepping up and playing their best hockey at this time of year. This is an opportunity for certain players that wasn’t there earlier in the year and now this is their chance. You don’t want to look back at the end of the year and think, ‘I didn’t get a chance.’"
On the battle against Hartford's penalty kill
"They pressure and they’re aggressive and they’re really good at blocking shots. They’ll come out in the lanes and take one right in the chest. So we need to make sure we’re making the right decisions when we have the puck and when we have the chance, let’s shoot that thing. We need to make sure we’re urgent on it."
On Morgan Geekie's hot streak
"He’s moving his feet more and holding onto pucks and when he does that he sees the ice well. He’s got a great skill set, he’s got a great shot, when he’s moving his feet he’s a difference maker."
PREVIOUS MATCHUPS
Oct. 5 – Charlotte 3 at Hartford 5CHA Standouts: Dave Gust (1 power-play goal), Julien Gauthier (1 goal), Janne Kuokkanen (1 goal)
HFD Standouts: Matt Beleskey (2 goals), Danny O'Regan (3 assists), Vincent LoVerde (1g, 1a)
Dec. 17 – Hartford 3 at Charlotte 6
CHA Standouts: Julien Gauthier (2g, 1a), Fredrik Claesson (1g, 2a), Max McCormick (1g, 1a)
HFD Standouts: Joey Keane (2 assists), Danny O'Regan (2 assists), Vinni Lettieri (1 power-play goal)
Dec. 18 – Hartford 1 at Charlotte 7
CHA Standouts: Jake Bean (3 assists), Julien Gauthier (1g, 2a), Dave Gust (3 assists)
HFD Standouts: Phil Di Giuseppe (1 power-play goal), Nick Ebert (1 assist), Yegor Rykov (1 assist)
Jan. 10 – Charlotte 3 at Hartford 6
CHA Standouts: Jake Bean (2 assists), Morgan Geekie (1 power-play goal), Julien Gauthier (1 goal)
HFD Standouts: Vinni Lettieri (1g, 3a), Tim Gettinger (1g, 2a), Danny O'Regan (2 goals)
COMING IN
CHA: 1-game winning streak, 6-4-0 in last 10HFD: 1-game winning streak, 5-3-2 in last 10
WHO TO WATCH
CHA
Jake Bean – 12 pts in last 10 gamesMorgan Geekie – 14 pts in last 11 games
Janne Kuokkanen – 14 pts in last 11 games
HFD
Joey Keane – 4 points in last 4 gamesDanny O'Regan – 9 points in last 10 games
Vitali Kravstsov – 4 points in last 3 games
PROMOS
Go Red for Women presented by Piedmont Natural GasSports Equipment Drive presented by the American Heart Association
TUNE IN
Tonight's game starts at 7p.m. You can tune in to every broadcast this season with a subscription to the league’s streaming platform AHLTV.As always, the radio broadcast will be available via the Checkers app on iPhone or Android, or this link, so tune in and tweet Jason Shaya to let him know you’re listening!
