Week in Review
Team Statistics
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Overall record24-17-1
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Home record13-8-1
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Road record11-9-0
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Last weeks' record3-1-0
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Last 10 games4-6-0
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Division Standings4th
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Conference Standings7th
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League Standings9th
Checkers 3, Bridgeport 0
In Bridgeport’s return to Charlotte, the two sides locked in a defensive battle. After nearly two full periods of scoreless hockey, the Checkers broke through with a pair of goals in the final five minutes of the second period, with Warren Foegele and Nicolas Roy each lighting the lamp. The Checkers hunkered down from there, weathering the Sound Tigers’ rally attempt and tacking on a late empty netter to skate away with a 3-0 win. In goal, Alex Nedeljkovic turned aside all 25 shots he was faced with and picked up his second shutout of the season. Full recapCheckers 4, Bridgeport 3
The next night’s rematch would be played under some different circumstances, as inclement weather forced the game to be closed to the public. After the two squads traded tallies in the opening frame, Bridgeport notched a pair of goals in the second to carry a 3-1 lead into the final 20 minutes of regulation. The Checkers wouldn’t fold, however. Trevor Carrick put a dent in the advantage with a power-play blast early on in the third, then Lucas Wallmark drew things even with half a period to go. Charlotte finished its comeback path minutes later, when Wallmark ripped a cross-ice feed from Andrew Poturalski for another power-play marker, and that would prove to be the difference as Charlotte came away with a 4-3 victory and a mid-week sweep of the Sound Tigers. Full recapRochester 4, Checkers 1
In their first ever trip to Charlotte, the Rochester Americans got the best of the Checkers. The Amerks got on the board five minutes into the game and never slowed down, notching three straight goals to build a 3-0 lead late in the second. The Checkers showed a spark late in the middle frame, with Lucas Wallmark lighting the lamp to give the home squad some momentum heading into the locker room, but it wouldn’t be enough. Charlotte came up empty in the third, and a quick empty netter from Rochester sealed the Checkers’ lopsided defeat. Full recapCheckers 5, Rochester 4 (OT)
Charlotte’s offense came to life in the next night’s rematch. After Andrew Miller’s breakaway tally less than a minute in was answered by Rochester minutes later, the Checkers would rip off three unanswered goals to jump out to a 4-1 lead midway through regulation. The powerhouse Amerks stormed back, however, notching one late in the second followed by a pair of goals in the final five minutes of play to force overtime. Rochester came away with a huge chance early on in the extra frame that was denied by netminder Alex Nedeljkovic, then it was the Checkers’ turn to create pressure. After forcing a turnover in the defensive zone, Valentin Zykov corralled the puck and went coast to coast blowing the Rochester defender and beating goalie Linus Ullmark on a slick left-to-right move to earn the Checkers the win. Full recapThree Stars Of The Week
3rd Star
Andrew Poturalski
0g, 5a
2nd Star
Valentin Zykov
2g, 2a
1st Star
Warren Foegele
3g, 2aNotables
GOALS APLENTY
The Checkers, who boast the third-ranked offense in the AHL this season, have been propelled by a trio of high-flying scorers.Andrew Miller leads the way with 38 points, good for seventh in the AHL overall, making him the third-highest scorer through 42 games in franchise history. The only marks ahead of him are Aaron Palushaj’s 39 in 2013-14 and Jerome Samson’s 42 in 2010-11. The former would finish with 58 points in 68 games, while the latter finished with 54 points in 53 games.
Prior to this season, 2010-11 Samson was the only skater in franchise history to hit the 20-goal mark through 42 games, but the 2017-18 campaign has seen both Warren Foegele and Valentin Zykov reach that milestone. In Charlotte’s seven-year AHL history, 18 skaters have notched 20 goals over an entire season. 2017-18 will be the first season since 2014-15 to see multiple 20-goal scorers on the same team.
ALL STAR Z
After enduring a six-game scoreless streak – his previous long this season was two – Valentin Zykov went off for four points during this weekend’s two-game set with Rochester. The Russian’s two-goal effort on Sunday, his fourth multi-goal game of the season, moved him back into a tie for the league goal lead with Texas’ Curtis McKenzie.Following the two-game series in Hartford next weekend, Zykov will be headed to Utica to represent the Checkers at the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic. The 22-year-old is the fifth forward in franchise history to be named an All Star and just the second since 2012.
FOEGELE FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS
Not to be outdone, Warren Foegele lit the lamp three times in four games this week to bring his total to 20, moving him into a tie for third in the AHL. The 21-year-old now leads all rookies in goals and ranks fifth in scoring.Of Foegele’s 20 goals this season, none have come on the man advantage. By comparison, the rest of the AHL’s top six goal scorers all have at least six power-play goals this season.
Foegele, who has already set franchise single-season records for shorthanded goals and points– two categories he currently holds a share of the league lead in – is already the third-highest scoring rookie in franchise history. He needs just five more to pass Lucas Wallmark’s 24 goals from a year ago.
FREE HOCKEY
Prior to last night’s overtime win Rochester, the Checkers were the lone team in the AHL to not have a game decided in overtime. In fact, they had only had one game go beyond regulation this season, a shootout loss to Providence on Nov. 26.Even now, the Checkers have played the fewest games past overtime of any AHL team this season, but are one of only four teams without an overtime loss.
POTTING POINTS
Of Andrew Poturalski’s 25 points this season, 15 have come during the last 19 games. The reigning team scoring leader is currently in the midst of a six-game point streak, just two shy of matching Andrew Miller’s eight-game run that stands as the longest by a Checker this season, and has registered an assist in four straight games, tied for the longest active such streak in the league.SHOT STOPPERS
The Checkers have quietly become one of the stingiest teams in the league. Rochester was able to record 30 shots on goal Sunday, marking the first time an opponent has been able to reach the 30-shot mark against Charlotte since Dec. 13. The Checkers are currently averaging 27.24 shots against them per game, the third-best mark in the league.Ranks
- Andrew Miller ranks 7th in the AHL in scoring (38) and fifth in assists (28)
- Valentin Zykov is tied for the league lead in both goals (21) and power-play goals (11) and leads the league in shooting percentage (29.2)
- Warren Foegele is tied for third in the AHL in goals (20), leads the league in shorthanded points, is tied for the league lead in shorthanded goals (4), leads all league rookies in goals (20), ranks fifth among league rookies in scoring (32) and is tied for the league lead among rookies in game-winning goals
- Trevor Carrick ranks second in the AHL in power-play assists, is tied for 11th among league defensemen in scoring (22) and is tied for fifth among league defensemen in assists (19)
- Philip Samuelsson ranks third in the AHL in plus-minus (+25)
- Roland McKeown is tied for fourth in the AHL in plus-minus (+23)
- Alex Nedeljkovic is tied for second in the AHL in wins (17)
- Nicolas Roy is tied for the league lead among rookies in shorthanded goals (2) and shorthanded points (2)
INJURIES
- Sergey Tolchinsky missed nine games starting 12/30
- Nicolas Roy missed three games starting 1/17
Transactions
Incoming
- None
Outgoing
- Jan. 22: (C) Mitchell Heard assigned to Florida (ECHL)
- Jan. 20: (D) Roland McKeown recalled by Carolina (NHL)
Coming Up
By the Numbers
| CATEGORY | RECORD | AHL RANK | LAST WEEK |
| Power play | 20.1% | 6th | 6th |
| Penalty kill | 82.4% | 17th | 18th |
| Goals per game | 3.45 | 3rd | 3rd |
| Shots per game | 29.48 | 21st | t-17th |
| Goals allowed per game | 3.05 | t-16th | 18th |
| Shots allowed per game | 27.24 | 3rd | 3rd |
| Penalty minutes per game | 12.26 | 8th | 8th |
| CATEGORY | LEADER(S) |
| Points | Andrew Miller (38), Warren Foegele (32), Valentin Zykov (31) |
| Goals | Valentin Zykov (21), Warren Foegele (20), Aleksi Saarela (14) |
| Assists | Andrew Miller (28), Trevor Carrick (19), Lucas Wallmark (16) |
| Power play goals | Valentin Zykov (11), Aleksi Saarela (6), Patrick Brown, Andrew Poturalski (4) |
| Shorthanded goals | Warren Foegele (4), Nicolas Roy (2) |
| Game-winning goals | Valentin Zykov, Warren Foegele (5), Andrew Poturalski (4) |
| Shots on goal | Warren Foegele (92), Aleksi Saarela (88), Trevor Carrick (80) |
| Penalty minutes | Trevor Carrick (53), Zack Stortini (48), Patrick Brown (40) |
| Plus/minus | Philip Samuelsson (+25), Roland McKeown (+23), Patrick Brown (+14) |
| Wins | Alex Nedeljkovic (17) |
| Goals-against average | Alex Nedeljkovic (2.76) |
| Save percentage | Jeremy Smith (.901) |
