Weekly Report: Nov. 11, 2019

The Checkers took another step in the right direction over the weekend with a strong three-point showing against the Thunderbirds.

Week in Review

Checkers 2, Springfield 1

In their first meeting with Springfield, the Checkers fought through a tight, low-scoring battle until Colin Markison’s shorthanded goal with five minutes to play pushed them ahead and clinched a big victory. Full recap

Springfield 4, Checkers 3 (OT)

The following night had much more in the way of offensive fireworks, with the Checkers erasing an early deficit to take a third-period lead only to have the Thunderbirds storm back to tie things in the final minute of regulation and take the win in overtime. Full recap

Three Stars Of The Week

FIVE NOTABLES

1) THREE OUT OF FOUR

The Checkers are coming off of their best weekend of the season, beating the Thunderbirds on Friday and then earning a point in the next night’s overtime loss to collect three out of a possible four points against one of the division’s top teams.

2) SCARCE SCHEDULE

Looking at the current Atlantic Division standings, the Checkers sit in seventh place. But one thing they have working for them is that they’ve only played 12 games thus far, the fewest of any team in the conference. That gives the Checkers plenty of room to make up ground in the standings. For instance, Providence and Springfield are currently tied for second in the division at six points ahead of Charlotte, but the Checkers hold a whole three games in hand over them.

3) MCKEOWN MAKES WAVES

Roland McKeown turned in a solid weekend on the offensive side of things, picking up an assist on Friday and then lighting the lamp in the next night’s rematch. That gives the Checkers captain eight points in 12 games, tied for second on the team, and puts him on track to challenge his career high that he set last season with 25 points in 70 games.

4) KILLING IT

Once again Charlotte’s penalty kill remains one of the team’s strongest areas. The Checkers shut down the Thunderbirds on all 11 power plays they had over this weekend – including seven on Friday alone – and have not allowed a power-play goal in four straight games, killing off 16 straight man advantages.

5) SHORTY SUCCESS

The Checkers have scored four shorthanded goals this season, tied for the second-highest total in the AHL, and all four have come off different players’ sticks. Colin Markison recorded the most recent one for Charlotte in the third period of Friday’s win over Springfield. It was the second shorthanded goal of Markison’s career and his fourth ever game-winning goal.

RANKS

• Colin Markison is tied for the league lead in shorthanded assists (2) and points (3)
• Chase Priskie is tied for seventh among league rookies in points (8), tied for fifth in assists (6), tied for third in power-play points (4) and ranks third in power-play assists (4)
• Kyle Wood leads all league defensemen in shootout percentage (100) and shootout winners (1)

INJURIES

• Stelio Mattheos - Missed two games starting 11/8
• Fredrik Claesson - Missed six games starting 10/25

Transactions

Incoming

• 11/6 - Jacob Pritchard - Recalled from Greenville (ECHL)
• 11/4 - Cedric Lacroix - Recalled from Greenville (ECHL)

Outgoing

• 11/8 - Ryan Horvat - Released from PTO
• 11/7 - Alex Lintuniemi - Placed on unconditonal waivers
• 11/6 - Eetu Luostarinen - Recalled by Carolina (NHL)
• 11/6 - Spencer Smallman - Assigned to Greenville (ECHL)

Coming Up

By the Numbers

CATEGORY	RECORD	AHL RANK	LAST WEEK
Power play	19.2%	9th	9th
Penalty kill	93.3%	3rd	4th
Goals per game	2.83	18th	18th
Shots per game	31.08	9th	9th
Goals allowed per game	3.33	25th	22nd
Shots allowed per game	29.08	12th	14th
Penalty minutes per game	17.25	2nd	5th

LEADERS

CATEGORY	LEADER(S)
Points	Morgan Geekie (9), Chase Priskie, Brian Gibbons, Roland McKeown (8)
Goals	Eetu Luostarinen, Julien Gauthier (5), Morgan Geekie (4)
Assists	Roland McKeown (7), Jake Bean, Chase Priskie (6)
Power play goals	Morgan Geekie, Eetu Luostarinen, Brian Gibbons, Julien Gauthier (2)
Shorthanded goals	Eetu Luostarinen, Chase Priskie, Brian Gibbons, Colin Markison (1)
Game-winning goals	Anthony Louis, Morgan Geekie, Brian Gibbons, Colin Markison (1)
Shots on goal	Julien Gauthier (35), Morgan Geekie (32), Eetu Luostarinen (27)
Penalty minutes	Kyle Wood (22), Morgan Geekie (20), Clark Bishop (17)
Plus/minus	Fredrik Claesson (+3), Cavan Fitgerald (+2), Max McCormick (+1)
Wins	Anton Forsberg (4)
Goals-against average	Anton Forsberg (3.22)
Save percentage	Anton Forsberg (.890)