Game Preview: Checkers vs. Toronto (Dec. 21, 2013)

The Checkers conclude an especially tough three-in-three set with today's noon rematch against the Toronto Marlies.

Today's game, part of a Time Warner Cable Arena doubleheader with the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats, is the fourth and final meeting between the Checkers and Marlies this season. Toronto took all three previous meetings, the only times the teams have met in Charlotte's four AHL seasons, including a 3-1 win on Friday night that halted the Checkers' season-long winning streak at four games.

Following today's match-up, the final game in a franchise-record-tying, 10-game home stand (6-3-0), the Checkers take a five-day holiday break before playing their first road games in over a month next weekend.

Charlotte

The Checkers’ veteran players have taken part in their share of three-in-threes before, but having to play the third game on short notice should present a different challenge. It helps that Toronto is in the same boat, although the Marlies were off Thursday night while the Checkers were taking part in an emotional 5-4 victory over the Norfolk Admirals.

“We need to get to the game right away and get our legs going,” said coach Jeff Daniels. “Instead of trying to ease into the game, we’ve got to make sure we’re ready right from the get-go,”

“It’s going to be different, but this is a really big game for us,” said Checkers captain Brett Sutter, whose team enters today’s game four points out of a playoff spot. “(Winning) five of the last six games (before the break) would be huge for us and put us right back in the mix of things.”

Though the Checkers weren’t able to solve Marlies rookie goaltender Christopher Gibson as much as they needed to, Zach Boychuk was able to beat him by the slimmest of margins as his shot just trickled across the goal line midway through Friday’s third period. That goal gave Boychuk five during an active four-game goal streak and 12 in his last 15 games. He now ranks tied for fourth in AHL goal scoring with 14 and leads the league with 10 power-play goals.

As the Checkers showed signs of putting together another late rally following his goal, Boychuk also narrowly shot wide after creating space with his speed down the left wing and hit the goal post down the stretch.

“He’s a goal scorer, he’s feeling good about his game and he should be,” said Daniels. “He’s skating. He’s not standing around and watching - he’s making things happen. When he gets a lot of speed on those breakouts, he’s a pretty dangerous player coming off the wing.”

Given the short turnaround between games, the Checkers are likely to go back to goalie John Muse, who sat in favor of Mike Murphy on Friday. Muse has won each of his last six games, tying the franchise record, and remains the only Checkers goalie to win a game since Oct. 5.

Forwards Sean Dolan and Jared Staal and defensemen Danny Biega and Rasmus Rissanen will remain out for Charlotte. Philippe Cornet had to undergo some dental work after being hit with a high stick on Friday, resulting in a four-minute power play that produced Boychuk’s goal, and did not return. Should he not be able to play today, the Checkers would not be able to replace him from the active roster.

Toronto

If the result of today’s game is the same as their previous three meetings with the Marlies this season, the Checkers may favor a return to their previous schedule that saw them avoid Toronto entirely.

With a win today, the Marlies could become the first team to hold the Checkers without a point over the course of a season series since Charlotte joined the AHL prior to the 2010-11 campaign. In winning all three match-ups in regulation this season, the Marlies have proven to be a physical, hard-working team that, on Friday, excelled in the shot-blocking department and limited second-chance opportunities in front of Gibson.

“We can probably do a little better job of making it harder on them with changing the angle on them, but they did a great job,” said Sutter of the Marlies, who have the AHL's third-ranked defense. “Their forwards play with a lot of courage.”

“They’re a hard team to play against,” said Boychuk. “They’re always jumping in front of shots. They play you hard, they bang and crash and they’ve got some big guys. We’re going to have to find ways to beat them.”

The story of Friday’s game was Gibson, who was making a rare start, just the third of his career at the AHL level, in place of Drew MacIntyre. That said, given the quick turnaround, the Checkers should see MacIntyre, who leads the AHL with 13 wins, ranks third with 1,210 minutes played and fourth with a 2.13 goals-against average, in today’s rematch.

MacIntyre, a 30-year-old veteran who has played in 20 of the Marlies’ 26 games this season, picked up both wins over the Checkers back in November, allowing a total of three goals to extend Charlotte’s losing streak at the time to a franchise-record seven games.

In three games against Toronto, the Checkers have scored a total of just four goals.

Checkers Notes

Power Players

The Checkers, who rank third in the AHL with a 23.7 percent success rate on the power play, have scored at least one man-advantage goal in each of their last nine games (11-for-37; 29.7 percent). That ties the longest streak in franchise history originally set from Jan. 2-Feb. 3, 2012 (15-for-44; 34.1 percent).

The Checkers have scored 42.7 percent of their goals on the power play this season (32 of 75), which is the highest percentage of any AHL team. The Checkers are 1-6-0 when they do not score a power-play goal.

Winning with Muse

John Muse has won each of his last six games dating back to Nov. 30, which ties the franchise record set twice by teammate Mike Murphy during the 2010-11 season. Prior to his current streak, Muse's previous career high was set when he won his first five Checkers games from Dec. 16-Jan. 26 of the 2011-12 campaign.

Since joining the Checkers on a tryout contract on Oct. 23, Muse has been in goal for all 10 of the Checkers' wins. He has a 2.39 goals-against average and .919 save percentage while the other six goalies the team has used this season - Murphy, Justin Peters, Jesse Deckert, Allen York, Rick DiPietro and Rob Madore - are a combined 2-9-1 with a 3.70 goals-against average and .881 save percentage.

Boychuk Powers Up

After starting the season with two goals in his first 13 games, forward Zach Boychuk now has 12 in his last 15 to take sole possession of the team lead. He is also the team's points leader with 26 in 28 games, his highest scoring pace since the 2010-11 season, when he set the franchise record for points in a single season with 65 in 60 games.

Ten of Boychuk's 14 goals have come on the power play, marking the most in the AHL, while his 16 power-play points are tied for first. He is the Checkers' all-time leader with 38 power-play goals, at least 11 more than any other player, while his 87 power-play points are tied with Chris Terry for the most in Charlotte's history. He is only two power-play goals away from the team's single-season record of 12 set by Jacob Micflikier in 2010-11.

Boychuk also has goals in each of his last four games (five total), tying the longest streak of his career set from March 22-27, 2011, and marking the team's longest goal streak since Drayson Bowman set a franchise mark with an eight-game run last season. It is the second-longest streak posted in the league this season, trailing a trio of five-game runs.

Home Again

The Checkers' current 10-game home stand ties the longest in franchise history, a record originally set from Nov. 25-Dec. 15 of last season. Dating back to Nov. 7, the Checkers are in the midst of a stretch in which they play 16 of 19 games at Time Warner Cable Arena. After starting the season 0-6-0 on home ice, the Checkers have won seven of 11 in their own building.

Three In Threes

Tonight marks the third game of the second time the Checkers have played three games in three days this season. Following Thursday's win over Norfolk and Friday's loss to Toronto, they are now 3-1-1 in games that are part of a three-in-three set.

The Checkers play a total of five three-in-three sets this season, the fewest in their four AHL seasons. Two of those, including this weekend's, take place entirely at home. Charlotte has an all-time record of 42-23-9 in games that are part of a three-in-three set, including a 15-7-3 record in game one, a 15-5-5 record in game two and a 12-11-1 record in game three. In home games that are part of a three-in-three set, the Checkers have a combined record of 11-5-2.

Divided Division

In 28 games, the Checkers have played against their own division, the West, just five times (4-1-0), marking the fewest games that any AHL team has played within its own division. They will not play another divisional game until facing Texas on Jan. 2, which marks the start of a run in which they will play eight of nine games against divisional opponents. The West Division is the only division that the Checkers have a winning record against.

Against Toronto

The Checkers are 0-3-0 against the Marlies this season - games that mark the first-ever meetings between the two clubs. Should Toronto win in regulation today, they would become the first team to hold the Checkers without a point over the course of a season series. Charlotte has gone winless in only one other series, having posted an 0-2-2 record against Hershey in 2011-12.

The Marlies, who boast the AHL's third-ranked defense with an average of 2.42 goals allowed per game, have held the Checkers to four total goals in three meetings. Zach Boychuk has scored two of those goals, making him the only player with multiple points against Toronto.

Quick Hits

• Six of the Checkers' last eight games have been decided by one goal. They are 5-1-0 in those games.
• The Checkers have yet to be shut out this season, but they have scored one goal on eight separate occasions, all losses.
• Charlotte's three overtime games are the fewest in the league, as is its lone shootout appearance.
• The Checkers' five shorthanded goals allowed are tied for the fifth-most in the AHL.
• Charlotte is one of three teams that have yet to score a shorthanded goal.
• Mark Flood is tied for second among all AHL defensemen with eight goals and is tied for second with five power-play goals.
• Matt Corrente ranks tied for fourth among all AHL defensemen with five major penalties.
• Charlotte has both scored (29) and allowed (33) more goals in the third period than in any other period.

Player Streaks

• John Muse has won each of his last six starts (Nov. 30-Dec. 19)
• Zach Boychuk has goals and points in each of his last four games (Dec. 12-20: 5g, 2a)

Milestones

• Chris Terry recorded his 250th AHL point with an assist on Zach Boychuk's first goal on Dec. 19
• Zach Boychuk played his 200th game as a Checker on Dec. 19

Injuries

• Sean Dolan - missed eight games starting Dec. 1
• Jared Staal - missed seven games starting Dec. 5
• Rasmus Rissanen - missed five games starting Dec. 10
• Danny Biega - missed three games starting Dec. 15

Transactions

Incoming

• Dec. 14 - (D) Austin Levi recalled to Charlotte from Florida (ECHL)

Outgoing

• none