December 31, 2011 8:52 AM
The Checkers conclude a two-game road trip today when they visit division rival Chicago for the first time this season.
The game will be a quick turnaround for Charlotte (18-11-3), which went the distance in a 4-3 shootout victory over Rockford one night earlier. The Wolves (16-11-4), who trail the Checkers by just three points in the standings with one fewer game played, have been off since they themselves beat Rockford two nights earlier.
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GAME INFORMATION |
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WATCH: www.AHLLive.com |
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LISTEN: WFNZ 610 AM | www.AHLLIVE.com |
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TWITTER: @CheckersHockey | @CheckersInGame | @PaulBranecky |
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SEASON SERIES |
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Thursday, Dec. 15: Chicago 2, Checkers 1 |
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Friday, Dec. 16: Checkers 4, Chicago 2 |
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Saturday, Dec. 31 at 4 p.m. (Chicago) |
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Sunday, Jan. 8 at 4 p.m. (Chicago) |
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Saturday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. (Chicago) |
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Sunday, Feb. 19 at 4 p.m. (Chicago) |
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Saturday, March 10 at 7 p.m. (Charlotte) |
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Sunday, March 11 at 3 p.m. (Charlotte) |
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CHECKERS STATS |
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RECORD
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18-11-3 |
6th Western Conference
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GOALS / GAME
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2.78 |
20th AHL |
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GOALS ALLOWED / GAME
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2.63
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8th AHL |
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POWER PLAY |
19.1%
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t-14th AHL |
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PENALTY KILL
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84.1% |
9th AHL |
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PIM / GAME
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14.9 |
7th AHL |
Following today’s matinee, which starts at 4 p.m. Eastern, the Checkers will return to Charlotte to play back-to-back games against San Antonio starting Tuesday.
CHARLOTTE
Following a season-long, four-game losing streak, the Checkers have now taken points in each of their last four games (3-0-1). That ties them for their second-longest such streak of the season, having previously won four in a row from Oct. 22-29 and a team record five in a row from Nov. 20-30.
Their current streak started with a 4-2 win over Chicago on Dec. 16 in which the Checkers scored four unanswered goals to erase an early 2-0 advantage by the visiting Wolves. Rookie goaltender John Muse, a candidate to make his first AHL start of the season today, stopped all 24 shots he faced in relief of Mike Murphy to help win that contest.
That most recent meeting with Chicago marks the only game of the Checkers’ point streak that did not go to overtime, as they have done so in three consecutive games, winning two by way of shootout and losing one during the four-on-four overtime session.
With the possible exception of Muse in goal, the Checkers, who are carrying just one extra skater in the form of defenseman Chris Murray, are likely to field the same lineup as they did against Rockford. That group got off to a hot offensive start on Friday, scoring three first-period goals despite the absences of NHL recalls Drayson Bowman and Zac Dalpe. However, chances to add to their lead would prove hard to come by for the rest of that game until Chris Terry, Justin Krueger and Cedric McNicoll scored on all three of the team's shootout attempts.
Today’s game will be the third of eight meetings between the two clubs this season, with each team picking up a win just prior to the holiday break.
CHICAGO
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CHICAGO STATS |
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RECORD
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16-11-4 |
7th Western Conference
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GOALS / GAME
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2.84 |
t-17th AHL |
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GOALS ALLOWED / GAME
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2.74
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t-10th AHL |
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POWER PLAY |
19.7%
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t-10th AHL |
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PENALTY KILL
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82.7% |
t-12th AHL |
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PIM / GAME
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16.3 |
14th AHL
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Like the Checkers, Chicago, which started the season winless in its first four games, finds itself on a roll of late. The Wolves have won seven of their last nine contests, with Charlotte and Milwaukee, the only teams ahead of them in the Midwest standings, the only teams to claim victories over them since Dec. 10.
Chicago has been particularly effective on home ice, winning each of its last five games dating back to Dec. 10. That marks the second-longest active streak in the AHL and the third-longest of any AHL team throughout the season.
Goalie Eddie Lack, who started each of the last two games against the Checkers, making 40 saves in a 2-1 win on Dec. 15, is likely to get the start tonight after sitting out the team’s 5-3 home victory over the IceHogs on Thursday. For the season, Lack has nearly identical statistics as Charlotte’s Murphy, as the two share a 2.56 goals-against average. Lack, a native of Sweden, holds a narrow advantage in save percentage (.918 against .915).
It appears the Checkers will again avoid one of the Wolves’ top forwards in Mark Mancari, who has been on NHL recall with Vancouver for each match-up this season. He has 13 points (8g, 5a) in his last eight games, easily the hottest stretch of any Chicago player. The only Wolf to score more points this season, AHL veteran Darren Haydar, is starting to come around after an uncharacteristic scoring funk, recording points in each of his last two games (1g, 1a). Haydar, who recently became the 22nd player to record 700 AHL points, went scoreless in two games at Charlotte.
Chicago will be without defenseman Ryan Parent, who, like Rockford forward Brett McLean, is on international duty with Team Canada at the Spengler Cup.
CHECKERS NOTES
 • DIVISIONAL DOMINANCE: The Checkers have taken 17 out of a possible 22 points (8-2-1) against fellow Midwest Division teams this season, good for the highest percentage (.773) of any AHL team against its own division.
• SANGUINETTI’S HELPFUL RETURN: Since returning from a 10-game absence caused by a broken foot, defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti has 5 points, all assists, in six games, tying him for most on the team in that span. Despite playing in just 22 of the Checkers’ first 32 games, he now leads all team blueliners in assists (11). Seven of those helpers have come on the power play, giving him the most on the team behind Chris Terry’s 10. Sanguinetti is just one of just three Charlotte skaters still looking for his first goal of the season.
• NECK AND NECK: Checkers forwards Jon Matsumoto and Jerome Samson have exchanged bragging rights as the team’s goal-scoring leader several times this season, with the two currently tied at 13 following Samson’s tally against Rockford. The goal gave Samson points in four consecutive games, the longest active streak of any Charlotte player.
Matsumoto is on pace to tie his career high in goals with 30, while Samson is on track to post his highest total since scoring 37 with Albany during the 2009-10 season. Both players are in their fifth professional campaign.
• HOME AND AWAY: The Checkers 24 points earned at home this season are tied with division rival Milwaukee for the most of any team in the AHL. With a record of 11-4-2 this season, the AHL Checkers have improved to 33-17-6 all-time at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Checkers improved to the .500 mark on the road with a season record of 7-7-1.
• SHOOTOUT ACE: After stopping all three challengers against Rockford on Friday, Checkers goalie Mike Murphy has now allowed just one goal in 13 chances. That gives him a shootout save percentage of .923, which ranks second in the AHL. Murphy has won all three of his shootout appearances this season, helping the Checkers to a 4-1 record.
STREAKS
• The Checkers have earned points in each of their last four games (3-0-1).
• The Checkers have played in three consecutive overtime games (2-1).
• Jerome Samson has points in each of his last four games (3g, 1a).
• Jon Matsumoto has points in two consecutive games (2g, 1a).
• Zach Boychuk has assists and points in two consecutive games (0g, 3a).
• Matthew Pistilli has points in two consecutive games (1g, 1a).
• Mike Murphy has started five consecutive games in goal (Dec. 15-30).
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Charlotte
• Dec. 26 – (C) Zac Dalpe recalled to Carolina (NHL) from Charlotte
• Dec. 24 – (C) Riley Nash reassigned to Charlotte from Carolina (NHL)
Chicago
• Dec. 28 – (RW) Mark Mancari recalled to Vancouver (NHL) from Chicago
• Dec. 27 – (LW) Steven Anthony reassigned to Kalamazoo (ECHL) from Chicago
• Dec. 24 – (G) Charlie Effinger loaned to Missouri (CHL) from Chicago
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