Game Preview: Checkers vs. Oklahoma City

The Checkers hope to conclude a three-game road trip better than they started as they play the second of back-to-back games against the Texas Stars tonight.

A 3-1 loss in the third of eight games between the West Division rivals on Friday extended Charlotte's road winless streak to eight games (0-7-1), extending a team record and marking the second-longest such streak posted by any AHL team this season. They have not won away from home since Oct. 24, with tonight representing their last chance to do so until they come back from the holiday break with another game in Texas on Dec. 27.

Following tonight's game, the Checkers return home to play four consecutive games at home starting Tuesday.

Charlotte

Justin Shugg's goal with 2:12 remaining in regulation prevented the Checkers from suffering their second shutout in as many games as the team was coming off a 3-0 defeat in Norfolk two days earlier. From Carter Sandlak's go-ahead goal against Iowa on Dec. 8 (a short-lived lead they would quickly give up) to Shugg's tally, the goal drought lasted 123:52.

Despite the continued production of Shugg, who now has nine goals in just 16 games played after depositing a rebound on the power play, the Checkers fell to a 28th-place tie in league scoring with an average of 2.21 goals per game. Though it did not have a huge impact on the game, the Checkers' goal ended a drought of 25 consecutive power plays without a goal dating back to another Shugg tally on Nov. 29.

Bright spots for the Checkers on Saturday included a 7-for-7 performance on the penalty kill that extended the team's streak to 21 straight kills over its last five games. That included six straight minutes of Texas power plays in an ultimately scoreless first period that could have broken the game open much sooner.

Veteran Drew MacIntyre was a key part of holding the fort during that time as he kept Texas off the board until the middle portion of the second period despite Texas winning the shots battle 24-5 at that point.

The Checkers will continue to be without the services of forwards Greg Nemisz (out for season), Brody Sutter and Beau Schmitz for tonight's game. They did not bring any extra players with them on the road trip.

Checkers Notes

Home Cooking

The Checkers recently posted points in six consecutive home games (5-0-1) prior to a defeat to Iowa in their most recent contest at Time Warner Cable Arena on Dec. 8. The streak was one shy of tying the best in team history set in 2012-13. Tonight's game against Oklahoma City begins a four-game home stand, the entirety of which will take place in just six days.

Meanwhile, Saturday's win in the Checkers' most recent game in Texas snapped a franchise-record, eight-game winless streak on the road (0-2-4). It was their first road victory since Oct. 24 and marked the second-longest posted by an AHL team at any point this season, trailing an active nine-game slide by Rochester.

MacIntyre's Major Milestone

With his victory over Texas on Dec. 13, Checkers goalie Drew MacIntyre became just the 12th goaltender to record 200 wins in the AHL's 78-year history. He could potentially climb as high as 10th place by the end of this week, as he trails 11th-place Jean-Francoise Labbe by two wins and 10th-place Neil Little by three.

MacIntyre, a 31-year-old playing his 12th professional season, has now played for eight different AHL teams beginning with the 2004-05 campaign.

LaRose Hits 700

Checkers forward Chad LaRose is expected to play his 700th professional game tonight. He hit another milestone with his 150th AHL game in the Checkers' most recent game at Texas on Dec. 13.

After LaRose, the next-most-experienced Checker in terms of professional games played is Drew MacIntyre with 434. The next-most-experienced skater is Kyle Hagel with 305.

Power Outage

Justin Shugg's goal with 2:12 remaining on Dec. 12 ended a drought of 25 consecutive power plays dating back to his last man-advantage goal on Nov. 29. Even with Shugg's goal, the Checkers are just 2-for-38 (5.3 percent) on the power play over their last 10 games dating back to Nov. 22.

Charlotte currently ranks last in the AHL with a 9.6 percent success rate on the power play. In their previous four AHL seasons, the team never finished lower than fifth in terms of power-play percentage. Their lowest-ever percentage to finish a season was 19.8 percent.

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 four AHL teams that has yet to allow a shorthanded goal.

Murphy's Helping Hand

Defenseman Ryan Murphy leads the Checkers with 11 assists on the season, at least four more than any other player, and is tied for 11th among AHL defensemen. He is also tied for second on team in scoring with 11 points despite starting the season in Carolina and playing just 17 Checkers games. He leads the team in power-play assists and points (5).

Murphy, a 21-year-old who the Hurricanes drafted 12th overall in 2011, now has 34 points (3g, 31) in 41 career AHL games. Last season, he posted a 12-game assist/point streak that marked the longest in franchise history and was the longest by an AHL defenseman since the 2008-09 campaign.

Worst Behavior

With 20.96 penalty minutes per game, the Checkers are the sixth-most penalized team in the AHL. They rank third in major penalties with 32, 10 of which are courtesy of Kyle Hagel, who is tied for the AHL lead in that category. Rasmus Rissanen has been assessed 16 minor penalties, putting him fourth among AHL defensemen. In their four previous AHL seasons, the team never finished with an average higher than 16.5 penalty minutes per game.

The Checkers have held opponents to 1-for-27 with the man advantage in their last six games. They had allowed six goals on 14 chances in their three games prior to that.

Quick Hits

• The Checkers' 16 first-period goals ties the lowest single-period total posted by any AHL team in any period. Their minus-8 goal differential in the first period is their largest differential of any period
• Charlotte has both scored (21) and allowed (28) more goals in the third period than in any other period
• Forward Carter Sandlak ranks fourth among AHL rookies in penalty minutes (50)
• Defenseman Trevor Carrick is tied for fourth among AHL rookies in major penalties (4)

Injuries

• Beau Schmitz - missed three games starting 12/10
• Greg Nemisz - missed four games starting 12/8
• Brody Sutter - missed 13 games from 11/15

Milestones

• Chad LaRose is one shy of 700 pro games
• Ryan Murphy is three shy of 50 pro points
• Brendan Woods is five shy of 100 AHL/pro penalty minutes
• Keegan Lowe is five shy of 150 AHL/pro penalty minutes
• Jared Staal is 10 shy of 100 pro penalty minutes
• Drew MacIntyre became the 12th goalie all-time to record 200 AHL wins on 12/13
• Ryan Murphy played in his 100th professional game on 12/13
• Chad LaRose played in his 150th AHL game on 12/13
• Danny Biega recorded his 50th AHL/penalty minute on 12/13

Transactions

Incoming

• None

Outgoing

• Dec. 15 - (RW) Justin Shugg recalled to Carolina (NHL) from Charlotte (AHL)