Game Preview: Checkers vs Rochester (March 15, 2019)

The Checkers are back at home hosting the second-ranked team in the AHL for a heavyweight weekend battle. Here’s everything you need to know before puck drop.

1. NED STANDS TALL

Alex Nedeljkovic, who has started 12 of Charlotte’s last 16 contests, took his spot in the net for both games against the Phantoms last weekend. Friday’s tightly contested loss was the first time that the netminder allowed more than two goals in 11 games, surrendering three but keeping his team within striking distance late. To no one’s surprise, Nedeljkovic bounced back in Sunday’s rematch and pulled off his third shutout of the season, a 22-save display against a potent Phantoms attack. In fact, Nedeljkovic has not recorded consecutive regulation losses all season.

“It’s his mental makeup,” said Vellucci of what makes his netminder dangerous. “He’s a winner and he wants to win. He’s going to do whatever he can to make sure we win. That first game [in Lehigh Valley] he gave up three goals but I don’t think any of them were his fault. Two-on-one, one of them was a breakaway, some tough bounces. But he always finds a way to win in the end.”

The netminder is three shy of matching the franchise record for most wins in a single season, a mark that he set last season. Nedeljkovic is also chasing the franchise record for lowest goals-against average in a season of 2.29, set by Justin Peters in 2012-13.

2. SCHILKEY STAYS SCORING

Nick Schilkey has caught fire as of late and continues to add to his career year. The second-year forward, currently on a four-game point streak, has found the scoresheet in nine of the team’s last 10 games and racked up 12 points (6g, 6a) over that stretch – more than any other Checker.

“He’s a kid that’s never complained where he is in the lineup,” said Vellucci. “He’s been healthy scratched when he doesn’t deserve it because of the numbers. But when he gets in he’s ready to go. He’s smart and does the things that make coaches happy. And then on top of that he’s an exceptionally skilled player, he’s got a great shot and a great mind for offense.”

The Ohio State product now has 15 goals and 17 assists through 49 games this season, eclipsing both totals from his 48-game rookie campaign by 10.

3. POWERING UP

The Checkers’ power play appears to trending in the right direction. With Nick Schilkey’s dagger late in Sunday’s win over Lehigh Valley, the Checkers have now notched a power-play in four consecutive games, their longest such streak since a five-game run in late October into early November.

“We’re shooting it way more and we’re getting some ugly goals,” said Vellucci. “I’ve never been upset about the opportunities we’ve been getting on it, it’s just been about not getting those bounces. Now we’re shooting more and getting those bounces.”

Success on the man advantage has been key of the Checkers this season. The team has recorded a power-play goal in 34 games so far and logged a 26-5-3 record in those contests. On the flip side, they’re 13-10-4 in the 27 games where they failed to score on the power play. “We’re a really good team at five-on-five also,” said Vellucci. “If you’re winning the five-on-five it’s important to win on special teams too, it’s going to make your odds of winning the game better.”

4. SHORT SIGHTED

While the Checkers have been surging on the power play as of late, they’ve stumbled a bit when it comes to keeping the puck out of their own net in those situations. Across the month of March’s four games thus far, Charlotte has surrendered three shorthanded goals, all of which came via breakaways.

“A couple bad breaks and not backing each other up,” said Vellucci of the cause of those slip ups. “We’ve got to make sure that we’re backing each other up.”

The Checkers have given up a total of eight shorthanded goals this season, placing them in the bottom third of the league but nowhere close to Stockton’s league-worst 15. The team would obviously like to tighten up to avoid more breaks like that, but don’t look for them to go the safe route on the man advantage.

“Those things are going to happen, I don’t want them to sit back on the power play either,” said Vellucci. “We’ve got to keep doing what we want to do.”

5. HEAVYWEIGHT BATTLE

The Checkers face what could be their toughest opponent of the season in the Rochester Americans, who rank second in the AHL and trail Charlotte by just two points (though they have played one more game). Winners of four straight, the Americans come to Charlotte having taken eight of their last 10 games and boasting the second-most road victories this season – trailing only the Checkers.

One of Rochester’s biggest strengths is the overall balance they possess. They rank fifth in the AHL in both goals for and against and place in the top eight for both the power play and penalty kill. Scott Wedgewood ranks second in the league in wins (trailing Nedeljkovic by three), while their forward corps contains a pair of 50-point scorers in Victor Olofsson and C.J. Smith. They also have the AHL’s top goal-scoring blue liner on their roster in Zach Redmond, who has lit the lamp 21 times already this season.

“They’re built to win. They’re older and they have a lot of one-way contracts. We played them in those first two games to start the year but we haven’t seen them in a while. They’re experienced, they’re fast and they’re skilled.”

The Checkers got the best of the Americans in their own building to start the season, picking up a pair of wins by a combined 10-4 score, but things have undoubtedly changed since then. This weekend’s series should prove to be a good barometer for both sides.

“This is what we want to play,” said Vellucci. “These are the meaningful games that we want to play, coming down the stretch and getting ready for the playoffs. Bring it on. We want to make sure that we’re ready for it and we’re focused. You want to be the best, you’ve got to play against the best.”

6. TUNE IN

You can tune in to tonight's broadcast with a subscription to the league’s new streaming platform AHLTV. Sign up here and catch the action on the road.

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!