Game Preview: Checkers vs Lehigh Valley (Dec. 21, 2019)

The Checkers wrap up their final home stand before the holidays with a big divisional showdown with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Here's everything you need to know before puck drop.

1. BACK ON TRACK

The Checkers have found themselves riding a hot streak as of late, posting a 5-2-0 record over their last seven games. That stretch includes three wins over Rochester and Hartford – both of whom held their respective division leads at the time – by a combined score of 16-5.

The Checkers come into the weekend on a two-game winning streak after sweeping the Wolf Pack earlier in the week. That marks the third such streak of the year for Charlotte, which has not won three consecutive games this season.

2. DIVISION SHOWDOWN

The Checkers and Phantoms have found themselves moving in different directions as of late. While Charlotte is starting to climb its way back up the standings with a 6-4-0 record in its last 10 games and four wins in the last five, Lehigh Valley is 3-7-0 over the last 10 games and has won once in its last six contests. The Checkers now hold a two-point lead over the Phantoms in the Atlantic Division.

3. HAUNTED BY THE PHANTOMS

Despite only being 28 games into the season, the Checkers and Phantoms have faced each other four times already. Lehigh Valley has gotten the better of Charlotte thus far, winning three of the four meetings and collecting a point in all four. The two sides have been evenly matched, however, with all four contests being decided by a single goal.

4. OFFENSIVE BREAKTHROUGH

The Checkers are coming off a seven-goal outburst Wednesday against Hartford that matched their season high. That comes directly after a six-goal explosion the night before, giving the Checkers at least four goals in three straight games and at least three goals in each of their last five.

So far this season the Checkers are 11-2-2 when scoring at least three goals and 2-10-1 when falling below that threshold.

5. STRONG STARTS

The Checkers have come out of the gates firing as of late, registering multiple first-period goals in three of their last five games and five of their last 10. On the flip side, the Checkers have given up multiple goals in just once in their last 16 first periods.

That early success has proven key for Charlotte as the team is 11-3-1 when scoring the first goal, with 10 of their 13 wins this season coming in games in which they were either leading or tied after 20 minutes of play.

6. SHOT SUPPRESSION

Opponents have had a tough time registering shots on goal against the Checkers, who rank seventh in the AHL in that category. The Checkers have been especially stingy in opening frames, allowing the fourth lowest shot total in first periods across the league. In fact, the Checkers have held their opponents to single-digit shot totals in 11 of their last 14 first periods.

7. THE GOAT

Julien Gauthier has been an offensive force for the Checkers all season, but since his most recent NHL stint the forward has taken his game to another level. Gauthier has racked up six points in the two games since his most recent assignment to Charlotte, bringing his season total to 18 points in 24 games. He leads the team with 13 tallies, a mark that is tied for eighth in the league as well, and is currently riding a three-game goal streak.

8. BLOWING THEM AWAY

After a slow stretch of two points in 16 games, Dave Gust has broken out offensively over this last run of contests. The forward has found the scoresheet in four straight games, accumulating six points over that time frame. That includes a huge showing in Wednesday win over Hartford in which Gust posted a career-high three helpers on the night.

9. KUOKKANEN HEATS UP

Janne Kuokkanen is rounding back into the form that made him an AHL All Star a season ago with a dominating stat line as of late. The forward has registered a point on four consecutive games, racking up a staggering eight points along the way. Kuokkanen, who now ranks second on the team lead with 20 points, has four multi-point games over the team’s last seven.

10. TUNE IN

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 or this link, so tune in and tweet Jason Shaya to let him know you’re listening!