Weekly Report: Nov. 4, 2019

The Checkers had a tough go in Cleveland, taking home one point over the two-game set against the Monsters.

Week in Review

Cleveland 2, Checkers 1 (OT)

The Checkers locked in a tight, low-scoring battle in their first visit to Cleveland that reached the end of regulation tied at one thanks to a Eetu Luostarinen tally. The overtime wouldn’t last long, however, as Nathan Gerbe converted on a penalty shot just 42 seconds in to clinch the win for Cleveland. Full recap

Cleveland 5, Checkers 1

The following night’s rematch wouldn’t be as close, as Cleveland jumped out to a 2-0 lead early and then poured it on en route to a 5-1 win on home ice. Full recap

Three Stars Of The Week

FIVE NOTABLES

1) ON A ROLL

Eetu Luostarinen lit the lamp in Friday’s game to extend his point streak to seven games, the longest by a Checker this season. The run was snapped when the rookie forward was held off the scoresheet in Sunday’s rematch, but his streak stands as tied for the second-longest in the AHL this season.

2) NED HEATS UP

Alex Nedeljkovic may still be searching for his first win of the season, but the netminder has turned in consecutive strong performances between the pipes, regardless of outcome. Nedeljkovic has combined to make 70 saves over his last two outings, including 31 on Friday as he helped the Checkers salvage a point in Cleveland.

3) ON THE SKIDS

The Checkers were able to pull one point out of the weekend in Cleveland, but are now winless in three straight games dating back to their last home contest. That is the first such skid the Checkers have found themselves on this season, as they had not lost consecutive games prior to this.

4) KILLING IT

A bright spot for the Checkers over the weekend was the penalty kill, which shut down the Monsters on each of their seven power plays over the two games. The Checkers currently boast the fourth-best penalty kill in the AHL, operating at a 91.8 percent clip.

5) FREE HOCKEY

The Checkers went beyond regulation for the second time this season on Friday and had their first game of the season that ended in overtime. With Nathan Gerbe’s penalty shot conversion, the Checkers have lost six of their last seven games that have ended in overtime, dating back to last season.

RANKS

• Colin Markison leads the AHL in shorthanded assists (2) and is tied for the lead in shorthanded points (2)
• Chase Priskie is tied for second among league rookies in assists (6), tied for fourth in points (8), tied for second in power-play points (4) and assists (4), and tied for eighth among all league defensemen in points (8)
• Eetu Luostarinen is tied for third among league rookies in goals (5), tied for seventh in points (7) and ranked fifth in shots (27)
• Kyle Wood leads all league defensemen in shootout percentage (100) and shootout winners (1)

INJURIES

• Spencer Smallman - Missed 10 games starting 10/5
• Fredrik Claesson - Missed four games starting 10/25
• Stelio Mattheos - Missed eight games from 10/5 to 10/26

Transactions

Incoming

• None

Outgoing

• 10/31 - Jamie McGinn - Released from PTO

Coming Up

By the Numbers

CATEGORY	RECORD	AHL RANK	LAST WEEK
Power play	20.9%	9th	6th
Penalty kill	91.8%	4th	4th
Goals per game	2.90	18th	9th
Shots per game	31.20	9th	6th
Goals allowed per game	3.50	22nd	24th
Shots allowed per game	29.90	14th	11th
Penalty minutes per game	15.30	5th	13th

LEADERS

CATEGORY	LEADER(S)
Points	Morgan Geekie (9), Chase Priskie, Brian Gibbons (8)
Goals	Eetu Luostarinen (5), Morgan Geekie, Julien Gauthier (4)
Assists	Chase Priskie, Roland McKeown (6), Three tied (5)
Power play goals	Morgan Geekie, Eetu Luostarinen, Brian Gibbons (2)
Shorthanded goals	Eetu Luostarinen, Chase Priskie, Brian Gibbons (1)
Game-winning goals	Anthony Louis, Morgan Geekie, Brian Gibbons (1)
Shots on goal	Morgan Geekie (29), Julien Gauthier (28), Eetu Luostarinen (27)
Penalty minutes	Jamie McGinn (15), Derek Sheppard (12), Five tied (10)
Plus/minus	Fredrik Claesson (+3), Cavan Fitgerald (+2), Clark Bishop (+1)
Wins	Anton Forsberg (4)
Goals-against average	Anton Forsberg (3.09)
Save percentage	Anton Forsberg (.895)