Game Preview: Checkers vs Hartford (March 9, 2018)

The Checkers are looking to close out their home stand on a high note, bringing their four-game winning streak into tonight’s matchup with the Syracuse Crunch.

1. FRIENDLY CONFINES

Friday marks the Checkers’ return to Bojangles’ Coliseum, where they have enjoyed the majority of their success this season. The team is 18-9-0-1 on home ice thus far, giving them the fourth-highest home win total in the AHL, and are 8-2-0 in their last 10 contests in Charlotte.

The Checkers’ offense has also received a significant boost at Bojangles’ Coliseum. Charlotte’s power play, which ranks fourth overall at 19.6 percent, tops all teams’ at home with a 25.2 percentage. Additionally, during the team’s last 10 home contests, the Checkers are averaging 3.70 goals per game.

2. Z LEADS THE WAY

Valentin Zykov snapped out of his scoring funk in a big way over the weekend. After being held scoreless for seven straight games, the forward lit the lamp twice against Springfield on Saturday – including the overtime winner, his second of the year – and then added another game-winning tally in Sunday’s victory over Hartford. That burst of goals pushed Zykov back to the top of the AHL, with his 28 markers this season putting him three ahead of Grand Rapids’ Eric Tangradi and Utica’s Reid Boucher for the league lead.

Zykov’s scoring touch continues to help him work his way into Charlotte’s record book. The 22-year-old Russian is tied with Chris Terry’s 2013-14 campaign for the fourth-most goals in a single season by a Checker and needs just two more to become the third 30-goal scorer in franchise history, as well as just eight to tie Zach Boychuk’s franchise record.

3. FRESHMAN PHENOM

With his breakaway tally to open the scoring in Hartford on Sunday, Warren Foegele continues to impress in his first pro season. That marked his 24th goal of the season, a total that not only currently leads all AHL rookies but ties Foegele for the franchise single-season record for goals by a rookie. The 21-year-old forward needs one goal to eclipse Lucas Wallmark’s mark from just a season ago.

4. NED STAYS WINNING

After dropping two of his previous three appearances, Alex Nedeljkovic returned to his winning ways with a strong performance Sunday in Hartford. Turning in his second straight 30-save showing, the netminder picked up his 25th win of the season to remain the AHL’s leader in the category.

Not to be outdone by his forward counterparts, Nedeljkovic is on the verge of putting his stamp on the franchise record book as well. His 25 wins are the second-most in a single season by a Charlotte netminder and put Nedeljkovic just two shy of matching John Muse’s record of 27.

5. STAY POSITIVE

The Checkers’ blue line claims two of the top three spots in the AHL’s Plus-Minus rankings. Philip Samuelsson ranks second with a +30 rating, trailing Toronto’s Martin Marincin by two, while his defensive partner Roland McKeown is tied for third at +29.

The highest plus-minus that a Checker has finished the season with in franchise history is +16, a mark reached three times – most recently last season by Haydn Fleury.

6. MCKEGG HELPS OUT

Deadline acquisition Greg McKegg has stepped right into the Charlotte lineup and contributed. The forward appeared in his first three contest for the Checkers last weekend and picked up a helper in each game, including setting up Valentin Zykov’s overtime-winner Saturday in Springfield.

7. FAMILIAR FOES

Friday marks not only the seventh meeting between Charlotte and Hartford, but the second consecutive contest and the fourth over the last month.

After the Wolf Pack took two of the first three tilts, the Checkers have roared back to win each of the last three matchups with Hartford, including winning both games at Bojangles’ Coliseum last month.

8. #CHECKERSSOCIALNIGHT

Tonight is Social Media Night, so be sure to follow along on all our platforms for all kinds of content, including a Snapchat takeover by the CheckMates and an Instagram Stories takeover by Andrew Miller!

9. 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.