Hometown Weekly Report: Dec. 12

The Checkers’ struggles continued as they wrapped up their California road trip this past week.

With that bumpy stretch behind them, the Checkers will look to get a fresh start with a busy four-game week on home ice.

Week in Review

Stockton 3, Checkers 1

Returning to Stockton to kick off the second leg of their California trip, the Checkers started strong, with Sergey Tolchinsky putting his squad on top first with a quick snipe in the opening period. That lead wouldn’t last long, however, as the Heat responded one minute later and never looked back. The home team would pump in two more and, despite handing the Checkers eight power plays over the course of the game, those three unanswered goals would be enough. The Checkers held the Heat’s offense in check most of the night, limiting them to 15 shots, including just seven total in the final two periods, but it wasn’t enough as Charlotte fell 3-1. Full recap

Bakersfield 3, Checkers 2 (OT)

In their second trip to Bakersfield, it looked like the Checkers would be doomed to repeat their past performance, as the Condors jumped out to a two-goal lead after 20 minutes of play. But the Checkers showed resiliency and battled back, with Valentin Zykov putting them on the board in the second and Lucas Wallmark evening things up inside the final two minutes of play. The Condors had a chance to end the game in regulation with a penalty shot in the last 30 seconds, but Michael Leighton, assigned to Charlotte for the game, turned it aside and forced overtime. With a point in the standings in the bag, the Checkers created some chances in the extra frame, but it was the home team who would light the lamp take the victory. Full recap

Ontario 5, Checkers 2

The Checkers were looking for a way to snap their franchise-worst winless streak as they traveled to Ontario to close out the trip, but couldn’t find it against the Reign. The home team roared out with three goals in the first period before tacking on another in the second to build a staggering 4-0 lead. Levko Koper put the Checkers on the board finally in the waning moments of the middle frame, but it wouldn’t be enough. Ontario would shut down any thoughts of a comeback with an early goal in the third and that would seal it. Koper would notch his second of the game later in the third, but the Checkers dropped the California finale 5-2. Alex Nedeljkovic started between the pipes, surrendering four goals on fifteen shots before Daniel Altshuller was inserted to start the third period. Full recap

Three Stars Of The Week

Notables

SCORING DROUGHT

With a 5-2 loss in Ontario this past Saturday, the Checkers completed their California road trip, going 0-5-1 to collect one of a possible 12 points.

That trip, plus road sweeps at the hands of San Antonio and Texas, put the Checkers at an 0-9-1 record against the Pacific Division.

Last season, the Checkers went 10-7-3 against the Pacific Division, including a 5-0-1 trip through California.

OFFENSIVE STRUGGLES

Charlotte’s struggles putting the puck in the net continued through the end of the trip, as it recorded five goals over three games last week.

The Checkers, who have dipped to 27th in the AHL in terms of goals per game, have totaled 23 goals over their last 14 contests and have failed to score more than two goals in 12 of those 14.

That trend has been tough on the Checkers, who are now 1-14-1 in games where they score two or fewer goals. On the flip side, they are a perfect 8-0-0 when breaking that threshold.

POWER OUTAGE

With a power-play goal against Bakersfield last Friday, the Checkers were able to stop an 0-for-32 drought that had lasted the previous seven games. Still, even with that breakthrough the Checkers’ special teams have had a rough few weeks.

Charlotte’s power-play percentage currently sits at 9.7%, last in the AHL more than two whole percentage points. They have scored three power-play goals in their last 56 opportunities over the last 14 games, a stretch that has coincided with the team’s 2-10-2 skid.

On the other side, the Checkers’ penalty kill has been the better of the two special teams units, but has also seen its fair share of struggles.

Charlotte allowed a pair of strikes on the man advantage Saturday in Ontario, marking the fourth time in the last 10 games that it has surrendered multiple power-play goals in a single contest.

KOPER BREAKS THROUGH

This year’s California road trip has produced significantly different results than a year ago.

Last season, the Checkers rolled through California, taking 11 of a possible 12 points on the trip, whereas this season the Checkers have dropped each of their first three contests in the state.

Including sweeps at the hands of the Stars and Rampage, the Checkers are now 0-7-0 against the Pacific Division this season, a year after going 10-7-3 against the league’s newest division.

HOMESICK

The road has not been kind to the Checkers.

Saturday’s loss to Ontario not only brought an end to the team’s dismal California trip, but it extended their road winless streak to a franchise-worst 10 games. With their last road win coming over a month ago on Nov. 11, the Checkers are 3-11-2 away from home, tied for the worst road win percentage. They also hold the most road losses in the AHL and all three of their road wins have come against the Iowa Wild.

The good news for the team is that they are back in Charlotte for a four-game home stand over the next week. The Checkers are 6-2-0 at Bojangles’ Coliseum this season, though both losses have come in their last three home games.

FIGHT CLUB

Kyle Hagel dropped the gloves against Paul Bissonnette in Ontario on Saturday for his fifth fight this season. That total is the most on the team and tied for the most in the AHL. He is also halfway to the 10-game threshold just 23 games into the season. Per new AHL rules, a player will be issued a suspension for each fighting major starting with number 10.

Hagel is the only Checker thus far this season to fight more than once.

Ranks

• Kyle Hagel is tied for the league lead in major penalties (5)
• Despite being currently on the Hurricanes' roster, Michael Leighton ranks third in the AHL in both goals-against average (1.78) and save percentage (.932)
• Levko Koper is tied for fourth in the AHL and third among rookies in shooting percentage (27.3)
• Andrew Poturalski is tied for eighth among league rookies in scoring

Injuries

• Brendan Woods missed 18 games starting Nov. 2
• Connor Brickley missed seven games starting Nov. 27
• Haydn Fleury missed six games starting Nov. 30
• Trevor Carrick missed six games starting Nov. 30
• Kris Newbury missed one game starting Dec. 10

Transactions

Incoming

• Dec. 7 - Klas Dahlbeck assigned to Charlotte on conditioning stint

Outgoing

• Dec. 10 - Michael Leighton recalled by Carolina (NHL)

Coming Up

By the Numbers

CATEGORY	RECORD	AHL RANK	LAST WEEK
Power play	9.7%	30th	30th
Penalty kill	80.6%	20th	20th
Goals per game	2.42	27th	25th
Shots per game	30.79	11th	t-7th
Goals allowed per game	2.88	17th	13th
Shots allowed per game	27.46	6th	12th
Penalty minutes per game	12.33	8th	t-9th

CATEGORY	LEADER(S)
Points	Andrew Poturalski (16), Derek Ryan (13), Lucas Wallmark, Valentin Zykov (11)
Goals	Valentin Zykov (7), Andrew Poturalski, Brock McGinn, Derek Ryan (5)
Assists	Andrew Poturalski (11), Derek Ryan (8), Lucas Wallmark (7)
Power play goals	Valentin Zykov (3), Derek Ryan (2)
Shorthanded goals	Patrick Brown, Derek Ryan, Brock McGinn, Patrick Dwyer (1)
Game-winning goals	Brock McGinn, Patrick Brown (2)
Shots on goal	Roland McKeown (56), Trevor Carrick (55), Lucas Wallmark (48)
Penalty minutes	Kyle Hagel (41), Mitchell Heard (31), Keegan Lowe (27)
Plus/minus	Matt Tennyson (+7), Levko Koper (+6), Andrew Poturalski (+5)
Wins	Michael Leighton (6)
Goals-against average	Michael Leighton (1.78)
Save percentage	Michael Leighton (.932)