Game Preview: Checkers vs. Rockford (Nov. 24, 2013)

Tired of the other kind, the Checkers will now look to make it a winning streak as they host the second of a two-game set with the Rockford IceHogs this afternoon.

Charlotte busted a pair of franchise record streaks on Saturday night, with its 5-2 win over Rockford marking the end of an overall seven-game slide and a six-game slump at home, with all losses coming in regulation time. The team’s first home victory of the season improved its record to 2-0-1 against Rockford this season, with the IceHogs the last team the Checkers had beaten before their overall losing streak began all the way back on Nov. 2.

Following tonight’s game, the Checkers will play a quick road game in Norfolk on Wednesday before returning home to begin a 10-game home stand next weekend. Two of those games will be played against Rockford, with the teams knocking out seven of their eight meetings this season before New Year's Day.

Charlotte

The Checkers, winless in November up until Saturday, were noticeably relieved following Saturday’s triumph.

“It’s huge,” said coach Jeff Daniels. “The toughest one (to win) when you lose a bunch in a row like we did is the first one.”

“It’s getting the monkey off our back, I guess you could say,” said defenseman Mark Flood, whose sixth goal of the season in the second period tied him for second in goals among AHL defensemen. “I felt bad for the fans because they were supporting us, and the guys in the room were battling.”

Beyond the fact that they won, the Checkers also found the manner of the victory to be encouraging. A number of the team’s more high-profile players were able to contribute offensively, with Justin Shugg (2g), Zach Boychuk (1g, 2a) and Aaron Palushaj (1g, 1a) leading the way. Philippe Cornet, making his Checkers debut after a trade with San Antonio one day earlier, chipped in two assists.

“Shuggy gets a couple, Palushaj scores and Chucky scores – guys that were fighting for a bit and guys that we look upon to score goals,” said Daniels. “It was big for the win, but in the bigger picture from a mental standpoint which is a big part of the game for those guys, they can relax a bit, not grip the stick as tight and go out and play because they’re a big part of this team.”

Though the power play hadn’t suffered the same kind of statistical slump as the rest of Charlotte's game during the losing streak, it had struggled to deliver in timely situations prior to Saturday, when it scored four times in six opportunities, falling one short of tying a franchise record. There was also the team’s ability to bounce back after allowing a tough goal when Rockford tied the game at 2-2 with 1.1 seconds remaining in the second period.

The Checkers will have an interesting decision to make in goal, with John Muse (21 saves on Saturday) having started four consecutive games, though none of his nine starts this season have come on back-to-back days. With that and the quick turnaround to this afternoon in mind, Daniels may elect to go with Rick DiPietro, who has not played since allowing five goals on 15 shots to Hershey back on Nov. 13.

Mike Murphy, who recently returned from the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, is not expected to be in the lineup due to injury. The same is true of All-Star defenseman Michal Jordan, who has missed the last two games.

Rockford

Though its slide has not been as clearly defined as the Checkers’ was, Rockford has also had its share of difficulty since the teams met on Halloween, a 5-3 victory for Charlotte. That game marked the Checkers’ most recent win prior to Saturday and also started a run of eight losses in 10 games for the IceHogs.

Since taking the top spot in the Western Conference in late October, the IceHogs have been hurt by some significant roster turnover. On Saturday, that was most evident in goal, with the team handing Mac Carruth his AHL debut in goal while No. 1 option Antti Raanta was in the NHL with Chicago. Though he settled down for much of the game, Carruth allowed a tough goal to Shugg just two minutes into the game on a soft backhander from just inside the blue line that bounced along the ice and past him as he looked on.

Fellow rookie Kent Simpson, who has appeared in nine games for the team this season (3.60 goals-against average, .898 save percentage) is likely to get the start tonight, likely the plan all along given the short window between games.

Other players missing for the IceHogs include Jeremy Morin (11 points in 10 games), who is with Raanta in Chicago, and forward Jimmy Hayes and defenseman Dylan Olsen, who were part of Chicago’s trade with Florida involving Kris Versteeg.

Rookie forward Joakim Nordstrom, who has played eight NHL games for the Blackhawks this season, scored both of Rockford's goals on Saturday and now has four points (3g, 1a) in 11 AHL games this season.

Though Charlotte’s penalty kill has also struggled this season, the Checkers clearly won the special teams battle on Saturday, with Rockford now 29th in the league on the penalty kill after Saturday’s 2-for-6 performance. That puts the IceHogs just one spot behind the Checkers, who nullified both Rockford power plays, marking just the fifth game this season that they have prevented the opposing team from scoring on the man advantage.

Checkers Notes

Slump Busted

Saturday's 5-2 win over Rockford broke the Checkers' overall seven-game losing streak and their six-game losing streak at home, both of which were franchise records. All losses had come during regulation time, making it the longest overall regulation losing streak in the AHL since January of 2012 and the longest regulation home losing streak since Grand Rapids in the 2009-10 campaign.

Saturday's victory also marked Charlotte's first at home this season, ending an eight-game streak that included two playoff games last season. The Checkers were one of the last AHL teams to earn their first home victory, with Utica also picking up its first home win on Saturday.

Power Surge

Charlotte's four power-play goals on Saturday were a season high and fell just one short of the team record of five, set in Milwaukee on Feb. 16 of last season. It marked the third time this season that the Checkers have scored three or more power-play goals in a single game.

By scoring those four goals on just six chances, the Checkers climbed to a fifth-place tie in the AHL with a 22.2 percent success rate.

Offense Comes to Life

After scoring nine total goals in their last six games, the Checkers tied a season high with five goals, set three times previously, against Rockford on Saturday. The team also scored five goals in its previous win, a 5-3 victory over Rockford on Oct. 31. The Checkers have yet to win a game when scoring two or fewer goals, something they have done eight times (0-7-1).

Charlotte's 15 shots on goal in the first period on Saturday were two fewer than it was able to muster in the entirety of its previous game, when it took a season-low 17 in Toronto on Tuesday.

Floodgates Open

Despite going 10 games without a goal until Saturday, defenseman Mark Flood still ranks tied for second in the AHL in goals by a defenseman with six, a mark that also ties Chris Terry for the team lead. Flood's power-play strike against Rockford also pulled him into a first-place tie among AHL blueliners with four on the season.

Flood, who scored one goal in 52 games in the Russian KHL last season, is now over halfway to his AHL career high of 11 set with Manitoba in the 2010-11 campaign.

Divided Division

In 17 games, the Checkers have played against their own division, the West, just three times (2-1-0) and will not play another game against a West team until hosting San Antonio on Dec. 10. No other AHL team has played fewer games within its own division.

Quick Hits

• Justin Shugg's two goals on Saturday marked his first career multi-goal game in the AHL
• Zach Boychuk's three points on Saturday tied an individual season high for the Checkers set three times previously, including once by Boychuk
• Philippe Cornet recorded two assists in his Checkers debut on Saturday
• The Checkers' one overtime game is tied with Iowa for the fewest in the league
• Charlotte is one of three teams that have yet to score a shorthanded goal

Player Streaks

• Aaron Palushaj has assists and points in each of his last two games (Nov. 19-23: 1g, 2a)
• Brett Sutter has points in each of his last two games (Nov. 19-23: 1g, 1a)

Milestones

• Nicolas Blanchard is 2 goals away from 25 Checkers goals
• Michal Jordan is 3 assists away from 50 AHL/Checkers assists

Transactions

Incoming

• Nov. 22 - (LW) Chris Terry assigned to Charlotte from Carolina (NHL)
• Nov. 22 - (LW) Philippe Cornet acquired from San Antonio
• Nov. 18 - (G) Mike Murphy assigned to Charlotte from Carolina (NHL)

Outgoing

• Nov. 22 - (C) Elias Lindholm recalled to Carolina (NHL) from Charlotte
• Nov. 22 - (RW) Adam Brace traded to San Antonio