QUICK HITS
STRONG START
For the fifth time in franchise history and the first time since 2018-19, the Checkers have begun the season with a pair of consecutive wins. That 2018-19 team holds the mark for the best four-game start to a season as well, going 4-0-0-0 through their first four contests.Tonight's matchup pits two of the four remaining undefeated Eastern Conference teams against each other.
HOME-ICE ADVANTAGE
Bojangles Coliseum continues to be one of the toughest places to play in the AHL. Last season the Checkers were 22-9-5-0 at Bojangles Coliseum and ended the year on a 15-game point streak on home ice. With another two victories at the Coliseum to start this season, the Checkers have not lost a regular season home game in regulation since Feb. 11 of last season.NEW GUYS DELIVER
The Checkers have plenty of new faces on the roster this season, and they came through big during this first series. In fact, five of the seven goals that Charlotte scored over the two-game sweep of Hartford came from players who were not on the team a season ago.AGAINST THE BEARS
The Checkers and Bears squared off eight times last season and it was the Checkers who had the upper hand, finishing with a 5-2-1-0 record against Hershey. That includes a 3-0-1-0 mark on home ice and a three-game winning streak to end the season that saw the Checkers outscore the Bears 11-4.QUOTES
Checkers Head Coach Geordie Kinnear on Charlotte's season-opening series against Hartford"We played hard and fast - especially in the first game. We saw some identity stuff, but we can only play fast when we have five guys pulling the rope in the same direction. It’s going to take some time to find some chemistry with the lines. More positives than negatives."
Kinnear on building his teams' lineup
"We'll keep mixing things up. We saw that some certain pairs had some chemistry, [Riley] Nash and Levy [Anton Levtchi] had some chemistry. [Chris] Tierney had a good weekend and we’re trying to find guys that can mesh with him. It’s going to be a little bit of a process. We’re excited about the group we have."
Kinnear on Alex Lyon
"I’ve seen him on the other side but I don’t know a lot about him, but I know one thing - last year he won in the end."
Forward Riley Nash on the Checkers' style of play
"Speed, playing fast, spending as little time in our zone as possible and as much time in the offensive zone. Some teams might play more possession, but we’re trying to play with speed and counter and put them on their heels as much as possible."
Nash on this series against Hershey
"They are usually one of the elite teams in the AHL, it seems like every year they have some really strong players. It looks like it’ll be a good matchup this weekend."
COMING IN
CLT: 2-0-0-0 to start the seasonHER: 2-0-0-0 to start the season
WHO TO WATCH
CLT
Riley Nash - 4 points in last 2 gamesAnton Levtchi - 3 points in last 2 games
Chris Tierney - 2 points in last 2 games
HER
Mike Vecchione - 2 goals in last 2 gamesHendrix Lapierre - 2 points in last 2 games
Mason Morelli - 2 points in last 2 games
SEE YOU THERE!
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TUNE IN
Tonight's game starts at 7 p.m. If you can't be at the Coliseum, you can tune in to every broadcast this season with a subscription to the league’s streaming platform AHLTVAs always, the radio broadcast will be available via the Checkers app on iPhone or Android.
