The late-season game of musical recalls with Carolina continued Thursday morning as Charlotte’s parent club once again summoned Derek Ryan to Raleigh.
Ryan, who leads the Checkers in goals (23), assists (32) and points (55), will play the sixth NHL game of his season and his career as the Hurricanes close out their home schedule against Montreal. He has posted two goals for Carolina thus far, including one in his March 1 debut and another just over a week ago against the New York Islanders.
This will continue a hectic stretch for Ryan that has now seen the Checkers captain recalled or reassigned six times since Feb. 29. Tonight will mark his third game in as many days and his ninth in the last 13. Despite the workload, Ryan recently enjoyed one of his most productive stretches of the season, putting together a seven-game point streak ending (5g, 7a) April 7 that marked the longest by a Checkers skater this season. His 12 points (5g, 7a) since March 19 (nine games) are the most in the AHL during that time.
Ryan joins Patrick Brown as Checkers players recently recalled to Carolina. Unless they get players back from injury, the NHL club will likely need to retain two Charlotte skaters for their season finale at Florida on Saturday night, a game that is concurrent with Charlotte’s next contest at home against Milwaukee.
