Game Preview: Checkers vs Springfield (April 6, 2019)

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The Checkers have one home stand left on their slate this season, a two-game series against the Springfield Thunderbirds. Here's everything you need to know before tonight’s puck drop.

1. HARDWARE ON THE LINE

Having already punched their ticket to the Calder Cup Playoffs and earned the first division title in franchise history, next up for the Checkers is the league’s regular season title. With at least one point tonight against Springfield, the Checkers will clinch the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy, given annually to the team that finishes with the best record. That would also seal home-ice advantage throughout the entirety of the playoffs for Charlotte.

Should they not pick up the necessary point, the Checkers could still clinch with a loss of any kind by Syracuse in their contest against Rochester.

2. HOME COOKING

The Checkers round out the home portion of their regular season schedule with a two-game set against the Springfield Thunderbirds. They have earned a point in 12 consecutive home contests and picked up a win in five straight, giving them 25 home wins – tied for the most in the AHL. Charlotte has topped 20 home wins for the third straight season and the fourth time in team history, and it could match the franchise record of 27 set in 2016-17 with a pair of wins over Springfield.

The Checkers will host the Springfield Thunderbirds, who are tied for the fewest road wins in the Atlantic Division, posting a 12-17-6 record away from home.

Game Information

Season Series

  • Dec. 8
    CHA 5 @ SPR 4 (OT)
  • Feb. 15
    CHA 4 @ SPR 1
  • Apr. 6
    SPR @ CHA
  • APR. 7
    SPR @ CHA

3. POTSY CHASES HISTORY

With a five-assist explosion during the series against Lehigh Valley, Andrew Poturalski has become the second Checker ever to hit the 70-point mark in a season. The forward now trails just Zach Boychuk’s franchise record of 74 with four games remaining on the slate.

Poturalski currently ranks fourth in the AHL in scoring, trailing Chicago’s Daniel Carr by one, Toronto’s Jeremy Bracco by five and Syracuse’s Carter Verhaeghe by six.

4. THRIVING BLUE LINE

The duo of Jake Bean and Trevor Carrick have been piling up the points for Charlotte. Bean is one shy of setting a new franchise record for goals scored by a blue liner and leads all rookie blue liners across the AHL in scoring. Carrick continues to roll through a career year, already setting a new high in helpers and sitting one shy of his career-high point total.

5. SHUT IT DOWN

The Checkers have been one of the league’s stingiest teams as of late. The team has allowed two or fewer goals in 12 straight games and 16 of their last 17. While the Phantoms snapped what was an extensive perfect streak, the Checkers have allowed just two first period-goals over their last 13 contests.

Part of that tightening up has been a decrease in shots allowed by the Checkers. Charlotte has outshot its opponent in six straight contests and have allowed double-digit shots in a period just four times over the last six games.

6. TRADE PARTNERS

The Checkers and Thunderbirds swung a trade earlier this season that has helped propel Charlotte down the stretch. After a solid 10 points (4g, 6a) in 14 games with Springfield, Tomas Jurco has thrived with the Checkers, logging 13 points (6g, 7a) in 15 games with his new squad, developing strong chemistry alongside linemates Matin Necas and Patrick Brown.

Going the other way was rookie Cliff Pu, who has recorded one goal in eight games with Springfield thus far.

7. HEAD TO HEAD

Despite being division rivals, the Checkers and Thunderbirds have only faced off twice so far this season ahead of this weekend series. The first meeting took place in early December, with the Checkers erasing a two-goal deficit in the final minute with a pair of goals with an extra attacker before Trevor Carrick won the game in overtime. The next tilt wasn’t until February and the Checkers again emerged victorious, this time in a decisive 4-1 fashion.

8. TUNE IN

You can tune in to this weekend's broadcasts 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!

Since Shaya will be calling the Hurricanes’ home game on Saturday against Dallas, Mark Bailey will filling in on the broadcast for the game against Providence, while Bridgeport’s Alan Fuehring will be covering the call for both teams on Sunday.