Game Preview: Checkers vs Manitoba (Dec. 13, 2016)

The Checkers are back on their home ice looking to bounce back from a tough road trip.

Here are 9 things to watch for in tonight’s game.

1. SCORING DROUGHT

Charlotte’s struggles putting the puck in the net continued through the end of the trip, as it recorded five goals over three games last week.

The Checkers, who have dipped to 27th in the AHL in terms of goals per game, have totaled 23 goals over their last 14 contests and have failed to score more than two goals in 12 of those 14.

That trend has been tough on the Checkers, who are now 1-14-1 in games where they score two or fewer goals. On the flip side, they are a perfect 8-0-0 when breaking that threshold.

2. POWER OUTAGE

With a power-play goal against Bakersfield last Friday, the Checkers were able to stop an 0-for-32 drought that had lasted the previous seven games. Still, even with that breakthrough the Checkers’ special teams have had a rough few weeks.

Charlotte’s power-play percentage currently sits at 9.7%, last in the AHL more than two whole percentage points. They have scored three power-play goals in their last 56 opportunities over the last 14 games, a stretch that has coincided with the team’s 2-10-2 skid.

On the other side, the Checkers’ penalty kill has been the better of the two special teams units, but has also seen its fair share of struggles.

Charlotte allowed a pair of strikes on the man advantage Saturday in Ontario, marking the fourth time in the last 10 games that it has surrendered multiple power-play goals in a single contest.

3. PHIL-ING THE VOID

Given the Checkers’ offensive struggles, yesterday’s assignment of Phil Di Giuseppe to Charlotte is a big boost. The third-year forward appeared in eight games so far this season for the Checkers and put up seven points during his stint. All seven of those points came during a six-game point streak he accrued, the second-longest by a Checkers player this year.

4. HOMESICK

The road has not been kind to the Checkers.

Saturday’s loss to Ontario not only brought an end to the team’s dismal California trip, but it extended their road winless streak to a franchise-worst 10 games. With their last road win coming over a month ago on Nov. 11, the Checkers are 3-11-2 away from home, tied for the worst road win percentage. They also hold the most road losses in the AHL and all three of their road wins have come against the Iowa Wild.

The good news for the team is that they are back in Charlotte for a four-game home stand over the next week. The Checkers are 6-2-0 at Bojangles’ Coliseum this season, though both losses have come in their last three home games.

5. FIGHT CLUB

Kyle Hagel dropped the gloves against Paul Bissonnette in Ontario on Saturday for his fifth fight this season. That total is the most on the team and tied for the most in the AHL. He is also halfway to the 10-game threshold just 23 games into the season. Per new AHL rules, a player will be issued a suspension for each fighting major starting with number 10.

Hagel is the only Checker thus far this season to fight more than once.

6. KOPER BREAKS THROUGH

This year’s California road trip has produced significantly different results than a year ago.

Last season, the Checkers rolled through California, taking 11 of a possible 12 points on the trip, whereas this season the Checkers have dropped each of their first three contests in the state.

Including sweeps at the hands of the Stars and Rampage, the Checkers are now 0-7-0 against the Pacific Division this season, a year after going 10-7-3 against the league’s newest division.

7. AGAINST THE MOOSE

This marks the first meeting between the Checkers and Moose this season. Charlotte got the best of last season’s series, turning in a 5-3-0 record. Four of the eight meetings were decided by one goal, and one or both of the teams scored two or fewer goals in all eight.

The Checkers were especially strong against the Moose in Charlotte, where they won three of the four contests.

8. UGLY SWEATER NIGHT

Wear your best ugly Christmas sweater to the game tonight and you could win a prize! Just tweet us a pic at the game with your Ugly Sweater and we'll pick our favorite!

9. TUNE IN!

If you can't make it to the Coliseum tonight, first off, you're missing out. But you can still follow @CheckersInGame on Twitter for updates and head here to listen to Jason Shaya's call of the game! You can also tweet at him to let him know you're listening!

You can also download the new Checkers App, available for both iPhones and Androids, for score updates and to play the new Top Line game!