QUICK HITS
PLAYOFF PICTURE
Heading into this series, the Checkers magic number to clinch a playoff spot sits at 9 - meaning they need that combination of points either from collecting them themselves or from Hartford (the first team out of the playoff picture) failing to collect them. The Checkers have a possible four points at their disposal against Providence, while the Wolf Pack - who won on Friday - also play Saturday and Sunday.The Checkers also trail Hershey by 6 points for second place in the Atlantic Division - a spot that comes with a first-round bye in the playoffs.
AGAINST THE BRUINS
These two contests will wrap up the eight-game regular season series between the Checkers and Bruins. The home team has won every contest, with the Checkers holding a 2-3-1-0 record thus far.After starting the month of March with a 1-3-0-0 record, the Bruins head into the weekend having won each of their last five games. Their notoriously stingy play has buoyed them over that run, as Providence has allowed two or fewer goals in three straight contests.
The Checkers come into the series on a four-game point streak, including an impressive two-game sweep of the North Division-leading Marlies last weekend.
CARLSSON KEEPS SCORING
After posting four points in the Toronto series a week ago, Lucas Carlsson continues to be on a red-hot run. He leads all AHL blue liners in goals, and since Jan. 14 he has recorded more points than any other defensemen in the league. Currently at 43 points on the year, Carlsson needs seven more to tie Bobby Sanguinetti’s single-season franchise record of 50.SPECIAL TEAMS SUCCESS
The Checkers have recorded a power-play goal in each of their last five games and have not allowed a power-play goal in four straight contests - killing off each of their last 10 times shorthanded.The Bruins come into the weekend with a power play that ranks in the bottom half of the league, but they have recorded a power-play goal in each of their last four games. The penalty kill has been a strength of theirs throughout the season, slotting into the league’s top 10.
QUOTES
Head Coach Geordie Kinnear on this week of practice"Development day, then a good practice, a bit of a rest day. You look at our schedule, we have some of the tougher teams on the docket coming up. Providence is an elite team"
Kinnear on coming off a big sweep of Toronto
"We want to be even-keeled and look ahead. We need to put that road trip behind us. We just want to keep building and playing the right way all the way through."
Kinnear on his team's ability to suppress shots
"I think it’s important to have the puck, because when you have the puck it’s hard for the other team to get a shot on net or score a goal. We had the puck [in Toronto]. It’s something we’ve tried to harp on all year long. It’s an individual thing and it’s a team thing."
COMING IN
CLT: 3-1-0-1 in last five gamesPRO: 5-0-0-0 in last five games
WHO TO WATCH
CLT
Lucas Carlsson - 16 points in last 11 gamesGrigori Denisenko - 5 points in last 4 games
Santtu Kinnunen - 3 points in last 2 games
PRO
Connor Carrick - 8 points in last 5 gamesGeorgii Merkulov - 5 points in last 4 games
Joona Koppanen - 5 goals in last 3 games
SEE YOU THERE!
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TUNE IN
Tonight's game starts at 4 p.m. If you can't be at the Coliseum, you can tune in to the broadcast with a subscription to the league’s streaming platform AHLTVThe radio broadcast will be available via the Checkers app on iPhone or Android.
Additionally, our friends over at Ed's Tavern on 2200 Park Road are going to be showing the game on their TVs!
