Game Preview: Checkers vs Utica (Dec. 18, 2018)

Charlotte’s pre-holiday home stand rolls on today as they host the Utica Comets once again. Here are 9 things you need to know before tonight’s puck drop.

1. STILL GOING STRONG

Another perfect weekend improved the Checkers to 22-6-1 on the season, with their 45 points good for at least seven more than any other AHL team. Only the San Jose Barracuda, who have a 16-3-4 record through six fewer games played, have a higher points percentage than the Checkers (.783 against .776). Dating back to last season, the Checkers are 37-8-2 in their last 47 regular-season contests.

The Checkers are the fifth AHL team since 2010 to pick up at least 45 points through the first 29 games of a season and the third to hit at least 22 wins. A win Tuesday over Utica would tie Charlotte for the second-best 30-game start to an AHL season since 2008.

2. STREAKING AHEAD

The Checkers’ current six-game win streak is their longest of the season, eclipsing two previous five-game runs (Oct. 5-19 and Oct. 24-Nov.3). It also stands as the longest active such streak in the league and is the second longest of any team this season, needing just one more to match Syracuse’s seven-game streak from November.

A win tonight would tie the longest win streak in franchise history, a mark set twice prior, most recently in the team’s final seven games of last season.

3. HOME COOKING

The Checkers have also won six consecutive games on home ice, their longest such streak this season and tied for the longest active such streak in the AHL. A win tonight would set the franchise record that was previously set from Jan. 21-Feb. 17 of last season. Over the last three seasons, the Checkers are a combined 62-23-2 at Bojangles’ Coliseum.

4. SAARELA'S SCORING TOUCH

After scoring 22 seconds into the extra frame Sunday, Aleksi Saarela is now one of six players in the AHL with two overtime-winning goals this season. He is also just the third players in franchise history to record multiple overtime-winning goals in a single season, needing one more to tie Chris Terry’s franchise record from the 2012-13 season.

The goal also extended Saarela’s point streak to six games, the longest active such streak on the team and one shy of matching the longest by a Checker this season.

5. OVERTIME SUCCESS

Sunday was the eighth time this season that the Checkers have had a game decided in overtime or a shootout, with the win moving them to 6-1 in overtime contests. With a win in their lone shootout this season, the Checkers boast a .875 winning percentage in games decided in overtime or shootouts, the second-highest mark in the AHL behind only Bakersfield, who are undefeated in one overtime game and two shootouts.

6. CARDIAC CHECKS

The Checkers picked up another one-goal victory Sunday afternoon, moving them to 13-2-1 in games decided by one goal – the most wins in that scenario in the AHL this season.

The Checkers also continue to stand as the only team in the AHL with a winning record in games where they enter the third period trailing (3-2-1).

7. REINFORCEMENTS INCOMING

Since these two teams faced off on Sunday the Checkers have received a trio of talented players from the NHL.

Janne Kuokkanen continues to lead the team in goals, assists (tied) and points despite missing the last three games due to NHL recall, while the Checkers are a perfect 12-0-0 when Clark Bishop is in the lineup. Scott Darling rejoins the team sporting a 3-1-0 record in five appearances with the Checkers this season, all of which have come on the road.

8. TACO TUESDAY

Thanks to our friends over at Sabor, if the Checkers win tonight everyone in attendance will get a coupon for a free taco!

9. TUNE IN

If you can't make it to Bojangles' Coliseum tonight, you can tune in to the broadcast with a subscription to the league’s new streaming platform AHLTV. Sign up here and catch the action.

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!