Game Preview: Checkers vs Springfield (Feb. 14, 2020)

After a strong start, the Checkers are looking to close this home stand on a high note as they host their division rival Springfield Thunderbirds.

THREE STORYLINES

GOAT'S GOALS

Julien Gauthier has been an offensive force all season for Charlotte, but he has especially ramped up his scoring as of late. The forward has lit the lamp eight times over the last nine game – including three times over the last two contests – to bring his season total to 26 tallies in 42 games. Gauthier currently ranks third in the AHL in goals, trailing the second-place Reid Boucher by just two. Gerry Mayhew has separated himself from the pack, however, with 39 goals this season to lead the way.

Gauthier is already in a tie for the ninth-most goals in a single season in franchise history, and is looking to become the fifth Checkers to score 30 goals in a season. Zach Boychuk holds the franchise record with 36 tucks in 2013-14.

POWER OUTAGE

The Checkers have hit a bit of a dry spell when it comes to the power play. They are scoreless over their last three games, going 0-for-10 over that stretch. That is tied with one other instance for the longest drought by the team this season, and is only the fifth time the Checkers have gone consecutive games without a power-play goal.

The Checkers – who still rank third in the AHL in power-play percentage – will get a chance to right the ship against a Thunderbirds squad that comes in at the middle of the pack PK-wise and has allowed three goals over their last seven times shorthanded.

OFFENSIVE CHANCE

The Checkers’ high-flying offense has scored at least four goals in each of the last five games – averaging 4.6 goals-per-game and earning a victory in each contest. That firepower will look to thrive once again against a Springfield team that has struggled to keep pucks out of their net as of late. After shutting out Hartford on Feb. 1, the Thunderbirds have given up 16 goals over their last three contests, all of which have been losses. Those three outbursts came at the hands of Hartford, Hershey and Lehigh Valley, three teams who rank in the bottom half of the AHL in goals-per-game. Charlotte clocks in at number six, averaging 3.41.

COACH'S QUOTES

Head coach Ryan Warsofsky on what positives the Checkers need to carry into this series
"Our identity has been something that we’ve consistently stressed. Making sure it doesn’t slip and we do it for 60 minutes. It’s going to be important against a Springfield team that loves to have the puck on their stick, their D get in the rush, so it’s important that we pressure them."

On Springfield's strengths
"They’re a deep lineup. I think their D are really good, they get up in the rush better than most teams in our league and we have to be aware of that. We have to make sure we’re tracking back, we can’t make this a track meet."

On kickstarting the power play
"Just have to have some urgency on it. We’re not urgent enough, we think it’s just going to be one guy making it happen and we’re looking for someone else to do the work. We need to make sure that we’re a five-man unit and that our entries are clean so we can get that set up."

PREVIOUS MATCHUPS

Oct. 6 – Charlotte 4 at Springfield 2

CHA Standouts: Jake Bean (2 assists), Roland McKeown (2 assists), Morgan Geekie (PP goal)

SPR Standouts: Ethan Prow (1 goal), Brady Keeper (1 goal), Chris Dreidger (36 saves)

Nov. 8 – Springfield 1 at Charlotte 2

CHA Standouts: Colin Markison (GW SH goal), Steven Lorentz (1 goal), Alex Nedeljkovic (20 saves)

SPR Standouts: Sebastien Repo (1 goal), Jonathan Ang (1 assist), Chris Driedger (27 saves)

Nov. 9 – Springfield 4 at Charlotte 3 (OT)

CHA Standouts: Julien Gauthier (1 goal, 1 assist), Max McCormick (1 goal, 1 assist), Roland McKeown (1 goal)

SPR Standouts: Daniel Audette (OT winner), Anthony Greco (1 goal, 2 assists), Brady Keeper (Game-tying goal)

COMING IN

CHA: 5-game winning streak, 7-3-0 in last 10

SPR: 3-game losing streak, 5-5-0 in last 10

WHO TO WATCH

CHA

Julien Gauthier - 5 points in last 2 games

Steven Lorentz - 5 points in last 4 games

Gustav Forsling – 6 points in last 6 games

SPR

Rodrigo Abols – 9 points in last 9 games

Dryden Hunt – 6 points in last 6 games

Ethan Prow – 5 points in last 7 games

PROMOS

TUNE IN

Tonight's game starts at 6 p.m. You can tune in to every broadcast this season with a subscription to the league’s streaming platform AHLTV.

As always, the radio broadcast will be available via the Checkers app on iPhone or Android, or this link, so tune in and tweet Jason Shaya to let him know you’re listening!