Game Preview: Checkers vs. Iowa (Dec. 8, 2014)

The Checkers look to wrap up their five-game home stand with a sweep of the Iowa Wild tonight.

Charlotte, which has earned points in each of its last four games (3-0-1) and each of its last six home games (5-0-1), both of which mark the best streaks of the season, is coming off a 2-1 victory over Iowa on Saturday. Another point earned tonight would tie the longest streak at home since Dec. 11-Jan. 16 of the 2012-13 season.

Following tonight’s game, the Checkers hit the road for a three-game trip that will take them through Norfolk and Texas (two games). They then return home to play four straight at Time Warner Cable Arena leading up to the holiday break.

Charlotte

Though they’ve been largely pleased with their play over the course of their current streak, a clear exception was last Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime loss to Norfolk in which they gave up a 2-0 lead with approximately two minutes remaining in regulation. Unhappy with the team’s work ethic throughout that particular contest, Daniels told a different story following Saturday’s win over the Wild.

“We talked before the game about the disappointment of (the previous) game,” said Daniels. “I thought we got out-worked and (Saturday) was about going out and competing. I thought in the last two games we kind of watched (our goalies) do all the work and it was time for the rest of the guys in the locker room to compete. I thought they did that tonight.”

“I thought it was a really, really sharp game,” said goalie Drew MacIntyre, who stopped 27 of 28 shots. “I just thought we were mentally focused and in it and just really sharp. Just those little things, it’s night and day, and makes all the difference. Our D did awesome, guys were sacrificing themselves, it was fun to see.”

Thanks to that defensive effort, the Checkers were able to win for the third time this season when scoring two or fewer goals. Both of Saturday’s goals came off the stick of sophomore Brendan Woods, who has tied his personal total with five on the season, including three in his last two outings. Woods now ranks second on the team with 10 points.

“He’s a big body and he skates well and he’s got a great shot,” said Daniels of Woods who has been filling in at center for much of the season due to injuries elsewhere. “He’s still learning the pro game, but I think at some point we’ll probably get him on the wing and I think he’d be a pretty effective player with some guys that can get in the forecheck and bang some bodies. Right now he’s progressing the right way and we’ll keep doing that.”

Speaking of health at center, Daniels said Saturday that there was “a good chance” rookie Patrick Brown will return to the lineup tonight after missing the last 11 games. Brody Sutter, who has yet to resume skating following a Nov. 14 injury, will remain sidelined. Chris Terry is back in Carolina after completing his five-game conditioning stint with the Checkers on Saturday.

The Checkers have used an even rotation in goal of late, with MacIntyre and John Muse alternating starts since Nov. 15 – a trend that may very well continue as the team begins a stretch of playing four games in six days tonight.

Iowa

Due to their recent success, the Checkers have begun to pull away from Iowa, their partner at the bottom of the West Division and Western Conference cellars for much of this season. Charlotte is now in 13th place and six points ahead of the Wild, who at 5-15-1 own the league’s lowest point total.

Saturday’s loss extended the Wild’s current winless streak to four games (0-3-1), all of which were played on the road. Their last regulation victory was on Nov. 14 (nine games ago) and their last road victory was on Nov. 12 (10 games ago).

Tyler Graovac leads the Wild, who rank one spot ahead of the Checkers in terms of the league’s offensive rankings (2.45 goals per contest) with 17 points (7g, 10a) in 22 games. Two players with close ties to the Checkers in Brett Sutter (their former captain, who has 11 points) and Marc Hagel (brother of Checkers forward Kyle Hagel, who has 10 points) offer secondary scoring.

Jordan Schroeder, a former first-round draft pick who torched the Checkers for three goals in two October games in Iowa, has just two goals in 13 games since.

The Wild could potentially have a change in goal today with NHL veteran Josh Harding leaving Saturday’s game with an injury after stopping 19 of 21 shots through two periods. John Curry, who has struggled at times this season, including five goals allowed in an earlier match-up with the Checkers on Oct. 24, looked sharp in stopping all seven shots he faced in his third-period relief effort.

Checkers Notes

Against Iowa

Tonight marks the fourth of eight meetings against the West Division rival Iowa Wild. Including two victories this season, the Checkers have an all-time record of 4-3-0 against the Wild since the franchise moved from Houston prior to the 2013-14 season.

Greg Nemisz and Brendan Woods (2g, 1a) lead the Checkers in scoring against Iowa this season. Jordan Schroeder paces the Wild with three points, all goals, which all came during the Checkers' two-game trip to Iowa on Oct. 24-25.

Drew MacIntyre has allowed just two goals on 55 shots to record both victories over Iowa. The Wild have used three goaltenders against the Checkers this season, with Johan Gustafsson earning the 4-1 victory with 34 saves on Oct. 24.

Former Checkers captain Brett Sutter, cousin of Checkers forward Brody Sutter who ranks fourth all-time with 255 games played for Charlotte, is now in his first year in the Minnesota Wild organization and ranks fourth on Iowa in scoring with 11 points in 22 games. Marc Hagel, brother of Checkers forward Kyle Hagel, ranks fifth on the team with 10 points (6g, 4a) in just 13 outings.

Putting up Points

The Checkers' current four-game point streak (3-0-1) marks their longest of the season and longest since winning four in a row from March 25-30 of last season. The team has not earned points in five consecutive games since going 2-0-3 from April 7-16, 2013.

The franchise record for longest overall point streak is seven games, set most recently from Jan. 3-16, 2013.

Home Sweet Home

The Checkers have points in six consecutive home games (5-0-1), putting them one shy of the franchise record set most recently from Dec. 11-Jan. 16 of the 2012-13 season (6-0-1). Their current streak is tied for the third-longest active streak in the AHL.

Meanwhile, the Checkers are winless in each of their last six road games (0-5-1), which ties the franchise record originally set from Oct. 19-Nov. 14, 2013. It is tied for the second-longest active road winless streak in the league.

Shorthanded Firepower

The Checkers' five shorthanded goals are tied for the third-most in the league and are two more than their league-low total from all of last season.

Chad LaRose leads the league in shorthanded assists and is tied for second in shorthanded points (3). Greg Nemisz and Brendan Woods are part of a 12-way tie for the league lead with two shorthanded goals each. Ben Holmstrom recorded the team's other shorthanded tally with its first penalty-shot goal since Dec. 20, 2011.

The Checkers are one of just five AHL teams that has yet to allow a shorthanded goal.

Woods Breaks Out

With 10 points (5g, 5a) in 21 games, second-year-forward Brendan Woods has already surpassed his assist (3) and point (8) totals from his 41-game rookie season. The first two-goal game of his career on Dec. 6, including his second Teddy Bear Toss goal in as many campaigns, allowed him to tie last season's goal total.

Woods, who has three goals in his last two games, marking the first goal streak of his professional career, is now tied for second on the Checkers in terms of points. His two shorthanded goals are tied for the AHL lead.

Bad Behavior

With 21.9 penalty minutes per game, the Checkers are the fourth-most penalized team in the AHL. They rank fifth in major penalties with 29, nine of which are courtesy of Kyle Hagel, who is tied for the AHL lead in that category. Rasmus Rissanen has been assessed 15 minor penalties, tying him for third among AHL defensemen.

In their four previous AHL seasons, the team never finished with an average higher than 16.5 penalty minutes per game.

Quick Hits

• Drew MacIntyre (3-for-3) is one of five AHL goaltenders to stop all shootout attempts this season.

Injuries

• Patrick Brown - missed 11 games starting 11/10
• Brody Sutter - missed nine games starting 11/15

Streaks

• Brendan Woods has goals and points in each of his last two games (Dec. 2-6: 3g, 0a)
• Carter Sandlak has penalty minutes in five consecutive games (Nov. 2-Dec. 6: 41pim)

Milestones

• Drew MacIntyre is one shy of 200 AHL wins
• Ryan Murphy is four shy of 100 professional games
• Chad LaRose is four shy of 150 AHL games and five shy of 700 professional games
• Brendan Woods is seven shy of 100 AHL/professional penalty minutes

Transactions

Incoming

• Dec. 5 - (G) Drew MacIntyre assigned to Charlotte from Carolina (NHL)

Outgoing

• Dec. 7 - (LW) Chris Terry recalled to Carolina (NHL) from Charlotte
• Dec. 3 - (LW) Kyle Jean released from PTO
• Dec. 3 - (LW) Gabriel Desjardins released from PTO