Game Preview: Checkers vs Hershey (Apr. 7, 2018)

The Checkers are back on home ice for the final two times this regular season with a chance to punch their ticket to the Calder Cup playoffs.

1. PLAYOFF PICTURE

Despite not playing, the Checkers had an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth last night, hinging on a Wlikes-Barre/Scranton win over Bridgeport. The Penguins couldn’t help Charlotte out, however, falling 4-3 and leaving the Sound Tigers’ hopes intact.

That sets up a list of scenarios that could occur tonight to send the Checkers to the postseason. The most direct one for Charlotte is a regulation win over the Hershey Bears. Should that not happen, a regulation loss by Bridgeport to Providence tonight would send the Checkers to the playoffs. A third scenario would come into effect if the Checkers were to lose to Hershey in overtime or a shootout (collecting one point in the standings) and Bridgeport were to lose in any fashion, the Checkers would clinch.

The Sound Tigers’ game against Providence starts at 7 p.m. tonight, one hour after Charlotte’s puck drop.

Aside from clinching a playoff spot, the Checkers are also on the verge of moving up in the Atlantic Division standings. At 88 points, the Checkers trail the third-place Providence Bruins by one point and the second-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins by two points, though Charlotte has played one more game than both teams.

2. GOING STREAKING

The Checkers enter this weekend having earned at least a point in six consecutive contests. That marks not only the second-longest active such streak in the AHL, it is one shy of matching the longest by Charlotte this season.

Since March 3, only Toronto (24) has earned more points than the Checkers’ 23 (11-2-1).

3. MCKEGG PARTY

With another helper in Wednesday’s victory over the Phantoms, Greg McKegg has run his point streak to 11 games. That puts him just one shy of matching Ryan Murphy’s franchise record of 12 during the 2013-14 campaign. Since being acquired from Pittsburgh at the NHL trade deadline, McKegg has been an offensive force for the Checkers. The forward has racked up 19 points in his 15 games with Charlotte, already eclipsing his point total from 28 games earlier this season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and has been held off the scoresheet just once.

4. POTTING POINTS

Last year’s leading scorer has caught fire for the Checkers as of late. Andrew Poturalski has racked up 14 points in his last 13 games, bringing his season total up to 47. The second-year pro has been especially dangerous with his shot, notching five goals in his last five games to become the fourth 20-goal scorer for the Checkers this season.

Poturalski is also one of two players to appear in all of Charlotte’s games this season, alongside Philip Samuelsson. Should they finish the year with 76 games played, the two would be the eighth and ninth players in franchise history to play in every game during a season.

5. ON THE PLUS SIDE

Speaking of Samuelsson, the veteran defenseman continues to put together a strong season on the blue line for Charlotte. He leads the league with a +43 rating, which is more than double the franchise’s current single-season record of +16, most recently accomplished by Haydn Fleury last season. Samuelsson has been a plus player in each of the last 14 contests and has finished a game as a minus just 13 times all year.

6. SUCCESSFUL SEASON

With 88 points, the Checkers have already notched the third-highest total of their eight AHL seasons. They would need 92 to match the match the highest mark they’ve ever posted in a 76-game schedule, which was set during the 2012-13 campaign (.605 points percentage). The franchise record for highest point total belongs to the inaugural 2010-11 Checkers (97 points / .606 points percentage), which was also the team’s only season in an 80-game format.

7. AGAINST THE BEARS

The usually powerful Hershey Bears have had a rough go this season, sitting in the cellar of the Atlantic Division. But despite their sub-par record, the Bears have given the Checkers a run for their money thus far this season. In six meetings, Hershey has bested Charlotte four times, though the Checkers were able to snag a point in one of those losses.

The contests have featured an abundance of offense, with at least one side recording at least five goals in five of the six meetings, but haven’t necessarily been close, as four of the six games have been decided by at least three goals.

Riley Barber has had a field day against Charlotte this season, amassing six goals and seven points in six games, while Tyler Graovac and Nathan Walker has each posted five points in six and four games, respectively. For the Checkers, Aleksi Saarela has led the way with seven goals and nine points in six games, including his hat trick on Cam Newton Night, while Lucas Wallmark has gotten over a point per game against the Bears and Nicolas Roy has racked up six helpers in six games.

Alex Nedeljkovic was between the pipes for both of the Checkers’ wins over the Bears, though both Charlotte netminders sport a goals-against average over three when facing Hershey this season. For the Bears, Vitek Vanecek is a perfect 3-0-0 against the Checkers this season, while Pheonix Copley was in the crease for both of Charlotte’s wins.

8. 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.