QUICK HITS
HOME COOKING
The Checkers return to Bojangles Coliseum tonight, where they are 4-0-0-0 this season – making them one of four teams in the AHL with an undefeated record on home ice. Dating back to last season, the Checkers have not lost at the Coliseum since Feb. 11.HUTSKO HEATS UP
After going scoreless in his first three games, Logan Hutsko has caught fire and racked up six points over the last four contests. That includes multi-point outings in two of the last four games and a two-assist showing in Monday’s contest against Bridgeport.TIGHT BATTLES
Of the seven games the Checkers have played this season, six have been decided by a single goal – with Charlotte holding a 3-1-1-1 record in those contests. Additionally, four of their seven games have gone to overtime, including each of the last two.SOURDIF DISHES IT OUT
Justin Sourdif has found a playmaking groove early on in his rookie year, posting an assist in each of his last four games.MAKING STOPS
Mack Guzda has stood tall in his first three pro appearances, collecting a point in each outing for a 2-0-1 record and making at least 27 saves each game. The veteran Alex Lyon has settled in over his last two outings, posting at least 30 saves in both contests.The stingy Charlotte defense will go up against a Syracuse attack that ranks in the top third of the league, propelled in part by a top-three power play.
OFFENSIVE OPPORTUNITY
On the flip side, the Crunch have registered the worst goals-against average in the AHL thus far - giving up 4.63 per game. In fact, Syracuse has surrendered at least four goals in each of their last four games and in seven of their eight games played this season overall.QUOTES
Checkers Head Coach Geordie Kinnear on Charlotte's tough road trip, in which it went 0-1-1-1"It’s a hard league, tough buildings, tough division. We made some mistakes that ended up costing us some games."
Kinnear on his team bouncing back
"That’s the way we work, we never look back, always forward. We learned a lot and we talked about some things today and we want to get better and keep building."
Kinnear on sparking Charlotte's offense
"It’s not like we’re not getting chances, which is a positive sign. Some of that is chemistry - some guys aren’t playing at the elite level yet. But as long as we stay with it and have the work ethic, those will eventually go in."
Checkers forward Justin Sourdif on facing a struggling Syracuse team "You never underestimate any team in this league. We can’t take them lightly. They’re a young team but they’re a hungry team. They’re going to come prepared this weekend."
Kinnear on his goalie group
"We’re just taking it game by game. Both goalies on the road [Mack Guzda and Alex Lyon] I thought were very good. Alex obviously came into some tough buildings and I was pretty impressed. We’ll just keep going game by game."
Sourdif on his four-game assist streak Our team is really strong and I have the opportunity to play with really skilled guys, world-class players so it makes it pretty easy to play with those guys. They help me out a lot.
Sourdif on returning home "It’s definitely nice. We haven’t lost yet here in the Coliseum so we’re looking forward to being back here."
Kinnear on the status of Aleksi Heponiemi and Chris Tierney, both of whom missed Monday's game
"We’re just taking it day by day. I would expect Hepo to play, he wasn’t feeling very good, pretty sick Tuesday morning. Chris [who was at practice wearing a yellow no-contact jersey on Thursday], we’re just taking it a day at a time."
COMING IN
CLT: 2-1-1-1 in last five gamesSYR: 1-3-1-0 in last five games
WHO TO WATCH
CLT
Logan Hutsko - 6 points in last 3 gamesJustin Sourdif - 4 points in last 4 games
Zac Dalpe - 5 points in last 5 games
SYR
Alex Barre-Boulet - 5 points in last 3 gamesDarren Raddysh - 3 points in last 2 games
Daniel Walcott - 7 points in last 6 games
SEE YOU THERE!
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TUNE IN
Tonight's game starts at 7 p.m. If you can't be at the Coliseum, you can tune in to every broadcast this season with a subscription to the league’s streaming platform AHLTVAs always, the radio broadcast will be available via the Checkers app on iPhone or Android.
