Game Preview: Checkers vs. Milwaukee (April 9, 2016)

The final home weekend of the regular season begins tonight with the first of back-to-back games against the red-hot Milwaukee Admirals.

Here are 11 things to know about the game, which has huge playoff implications. Please note that we are expecting a large crowd, so be sure to purchae your tickets in advance and allow extra travel time in order to arrive at the coliseum in time for puck drop.

1. PLAYOFF PICTURE

The Checkers enter tonight’s game in hold of the fourth and final spot in the Pacific Division bracket, though their chief competition, San Jose, kept the pressure on with its 3-0 win over Texas last night. That means that Charlotte cannot clinch a playoff spot regardless of what happens tonight, and that San Jose could actually pass them for the time being win a win of their own coupled with a Checkers regulation loss.

Should the Checkers win and San Jose lose in regulation tonight, it would be possible for Charlotte to clinch a playoff spot by also winning Sunday’s 12 p.m. rematch with Milwaukee. Even in the worst-case scenario, the Checkers, who finish their regular season with a pair of games in Lake Erie next week, cannot be eliminated this weekend.

2. RYAN IN DOUBT

The Checkers’ lineup suffered a serious blow on Thursday night when their captain, Derek Ryan, suffered an injury in Carolina’s final home game against Montreal. There was no immediate update from Carolina on the condition of Ryan, whose 12 points in nine games between March 19 and April 6 were the most of any AHL player, though Checkers coach Mark Morris acknowledged Friday that, “It doesn’t look good.” An AHL All-Star this season, Ryan leads the Checkers in goals, assists and points.

3. ANOTHER PLAYER SWAP

The post-trade deadline comings and goings at the forward position continued Friday, with the Hurricanes sending Patrick Brown to Charlotte in the morning and recalling Brendan Woods in the afternoon. Brown, whose 13 goals are tied for fifth on the team, recorded two points (1g, 1a) over the course of a seven-game stint with the Hurricanes. Meanwhile, Woods, who has four points in his last six games with the Checkers, is expected to play his fifth NHL game of the season in Carolina’s finale at Florida tonight. Given the short turnaround before tomorrow’s 12 p.m. rematch with Milwaukee, it’s somewhat unlikely that Woods and anyone else eligible to finish the season in Charlotte would return in time.

4. OTHER LINEUP NOTES

The Checkers have struggled mightily with injuries in recent weeks, particularly to players that recently joined the team. Recent acquisitions Dane Fox, Blair Jones, Andrew Miller and Valentin Zykov are all out, as are defensive mainstays Danny Biega and Rasmus Rissanen. According to Morris, none are likely to return this weekend.

5. A TOUGH OPPONENT

Milwaukee currently holds a five-point lead in the Central Division thanks to a 10-game point streak (8-0-2) that marks the longest active streak of its kind in the AHL. One of those overtime losses came against the Checkers, who defeated them 2-1 in the shootout back on March 18. The Admirals have not lost in regulation since March 12.

6. TOUGH NUTS TO CRACK

Milwaukee owns the AHL’s third-best team defense with an average of 2.46 goals allowed per contest. Much of that success can be attributed to the goaltending tandem of All-Rookie netminder Juuse Saros (2.18 goals-against average) and Marek Mazanec (2.33), who have shared the net almost equally this season. Mazanec was in goal for the team’s last game, with Saros starting the three games prior to that.

7. MUSE TAKES OVER

In contrast to the rotation used by Milwaukee, John Muse has completely taken over the Checkers’ crease by starting 14 of a possible 16 games since rejoining the team on Feb. 29. During that time, he has posted a 1.88 goals-against average and .925 save percentage, both of which are tops among the four goalies who have played more than 10 games for the Checkers this season. He has played back-to-back games three times, not including a start in each game of a three-in-three, making it entirely likely that he plays both games this weekend despite the short turnaround.

8. OFFENSIVE ROULETTE

The Checkers have experienced wild fluctuations in terms of offensive success of late. In their last eight games, they have topped the six-goal mark three times, but have also been held to one regulation goal three times. Charlotte is likely to play tonight’s game without each of its top two scorers (Ryan and Miller). In each of the Checkers’ last nine regulation losses dating back to Feb. 16, they have scored two goals or less.

9. SHOOTING GALLERY

Though goals were hard to come by, Charlotte was able to pepper Rockford goaltender Mac Carruth to the tune of 42 and 39 shots over the course of last week’s back-to-back games. Prior to that, the team had hit the 39-shot mark just twice in its last 34 outings.

10. CAMARA FINDS A HOME

Since joining the Checkers in a deadline-day trade with the Boston Bruins involving John-Michael Liles, Anthony Camara has posted seven points in 11 games and is responsible for two of the Checkers’ last three goals. Camara’s three goals as a Checker equal what he posted in the last season and a half with Providence, where he registered 13 points (3g, 10a) in his last 92 contests.

11. HERE AND THERE

The Checkers are 6-1-1 in their last eight games at Bojangles’ Coliseum … Including Camara’s goal on Wednesday, the Checkers have scored just three power-play goals in their last 12 games (3-for-41 / 7.3 percent). During that time, they have fallen from secod in the AHL on the man advantage (21.3 percent) to seventh (19.4 percent) … Charlotte has not allowed a first-period goal since March 23 (six games). They have only done so once in their last 11 outings … Kyle Hagel ranks second in the AHL in major penalties (17) and fifth in penalty minutes (157) … Mike Cornell leads all defensemen is tied for fourth in the league with 15 major penalties … Trevor Carrick ranks tied for eighth among AHL defensemen in scoring (40 points) and ranks tied for second among league blueliners in power-play points (22).