Game Preview: Checkers vs Rockford (Nov. 3, 2016)

The Checkers kept their winning streak alive by blanking Rockford last night to remain unbeaten on home ice.

Here are 7 things to watch for in tonight’s rematch with the IceHogs.

1. LEIGHTON SHUTS THE DOOR

Michael Leighton’s second consecutive shutout last night was notable for several reasons. First, it extended his all-time AHL shutout record to 48. Second, it moved him into a tie with former Checkers goaltender Drew MacIntyre for the eight-most wins in league history (225). Third, it set a new Checkers record for longest shutout streak (currently 175:05), topping the old mark of 154:03 set by John Muse in 2013-14.

Leighton, who has recorded all four of the Checkers’ victories this season, finished the night tied for sixth in the league with a 1.50 goals-against average and ranked 10th with a .940 save percentage. His two shutouts tie him for the AHL lead.

Team-wise, the Checkers’ two shutouts in their last two games equal their total from their previous 160 games dating back to April 10, 2014.During his team-best 55-point season a year ago, it took Ryan until game number 13 to record his 10th point.

2. HOME COOKING

After going 1-3-0 on the road to start the season, the Checkers have now won all three of their home games at Bojangles’ Coliseum to climb above the .500 mark for the first time. Since returning home for the 2015-16 season, the Checkers now have a 20-17-4 record at the coliseum. They are one of only two teams (Toronto at 5-0-0) to maintain perfect home records this season.

This marks the Checkers’ best-ever start to their home schedule, with the team winning its first two home games on only one other occasion (2011-12).

3. SPECIAL TEAMS ARE SPECIAL

The Checkers are a perfect 15-for-15 on the penalty kill over their last three games, including a shorthanded goal last night that marked their league-leading fourth this season – just one fewer than they scored all of last season. For the campaign, the Checkers rank second in the AHL with a 90.6 percent success rate on the penalty kill.

Meanwhile, the Checkers have scored a power-play goal in five of their seven games this season, including in three straight.

4. BROCK BREAKS THROUGH

Since going scoreless on 11 shots through his first two games of the season, Checkers forward Brock McGinn has put together a five-game point streak (3g, 3a) heading into tonight’s matchup. That puts him third on the team in scoring behind Derek Ryan (10 points) and Andrew Poturalski (8).

Now in his third professional season, McGinn has increased his points-per-game pace in each season, going from 0.37 as a rookie to 0.73 last season to 0.86 to start the current campaign. Last season, the Hurricanes’ second-round draft choice in 2012 finished second on the team with 19 goals despite appearing in only 48 games.

5. THE CAPTAIN CATCHES FIRE

Despite being held off the score sheet for just the second time this season last night, Checkers captain Derek Ryan, who is expected to play his 300th professional game tonight, still leads the team and is tied for fourth in the AHL with 10 points (5g, 5a) in seven games. He has recorded multiple points three times this season, including a pair of three-point outings on Oct. 21 and Oct. 28. During last year’s All-Star campaign that saw him post a team-best 55 points, Ryan did not record his 10th point until his 13th game.

6. FIRST-YEAR PHENOM

Rookie center Andrew Poturalski picked up an assist last night to give him eight points (4g, 4a) on the season, good for second on the team and third among league rookies. He also leads the team and is tied for first among first-year players with a plus-7 rating. In just seven games, the 2016 Hobey Baker finalist as a sophomore with the University of New Hampshire has already eclipsed the five points he recorded during a 16-game tryout with the Checkers after signing as a free agent with the Carolina Hurricanes last spring.

7. A TIGHT RACE

Heading into tonight’s match-up, just three points separate the first (Milwaukee) and last-placed team (Cleveland) in the Central Division. Including tonight’s opponents, seven of the eight teams hold either eight or nine points in the standings. During the course of its current three-game win streak, Charlotte has moved from eighth to second place.