THE MATCHUP
The Checkers are back home, fresh off a big win and looking to keep things rolling with a weekend series against Providence. The Checkers and Bruins just squared off for the first time this season last Sunday in Providence, where the home team would skate away with the victory.THE STORYLINES
Back In The Win Column
The Checkers finally broke out of what had been a season-worst five-game losing streak by beating the Wolf Pack 4-2 on Wednesday. That closed out what had been a less-than-ideal 5-7-1-0 month of January on a high note and kept the Checkers in the hunt of the Atlantic Division race.On the other side, Providence enters the weekend as the conference’s hottest team, posting an 8-1-1-0 record over its last 10 contests.
Knight's Net
Spencer Knight has seen the bulk of the action between the pipes for Charlotte as of late. The netminder has appeared in 13 of the last 14 games for the Checkers - a run that included 11 straight appearances - and 19 of the last 22. In fact, the last time that a goalie other than Knight appeared in consecutive games for Charlotte was Nov. 20 and 22.True Story
After missing 16 games due to injury, Alexander True made his return to the lineup Wednesday in Hartford and recorded an assist - his first point since Dec. 8.On The Kill
Checkers opponents have had at least four man advantages in each of the last six contests - 29 power plays in total. Charlotte has surrendered a power-play goal in five of those six games - including each of the last three - but still stand as the fifth-best penalty kill in the AHL.THE ONES TO WATCH
Charlotte
- Wilmer Skoog - 8 points in last 9 games
- Rasmus Asplund - 3 points in last 3 games
- Patrick Giles - 2 points in last 4 games
Providence
- Reilly Walsh - 4 points in last 5 games
- Mason Lohrei - 4 points in last 3 games
- Georgii Merkulov - 11 points in last 9 games
