Weekly Report: The Final Stretch

The Checkers ran the gamut over their busy road swing, taking down the Penguins before salvaging one point out of a two-game set in Springfield.

Week in Review

Checkers 4, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 1

The Checkers went into Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the final time this season and built up a quick two-goal lead through the first period of action, but the Penguins notched the lone goal of the middle frame to pull themselves within striking distance for the final 20 minutes of play. Connor Bunnaman pounced on a Penguins’ defensive zone turnover late in the frame, however, burying it and giving the Checkers the cushion they needed to successfully pull out the win. Full recap

Checkers 1, Springfield 3

The Checkers fell into an early hole in their weekend opener against Springfield - with the Thunderbirds striking twice in the first six minutes of play - and saw that gap widen when the Thunderbirds tacked on a power-play strike early in the middle frame. A Matt Kiersted point bomb 30 seconds into the third period put the visitors on the board, but it wasn’t quite enough to kickstart a rally, as time ran out and the Checkers dropped the 3-1 final. Full recap

Checkers 1, Springfield 2 (SO)

The following night’s rematch was another tight, low-scoring affair. The Checkers wasted no time finding the back of the net thanks to Henry Bowlby’s goal exactly midway through the first, but that would prove to be the only offense they could muster over the 60 minutes of regulation - as a tally from Springfield late in the second would ultimately send the contest to overtime. After a scoreless extra frame the game required a shootout, and Sam Anas’ tally in round one would stand as the only strike - lifting the Thunderbirds to another victory. Full recap

Three Stars Of The Week

PLAYOFF PICTURE

The weekend series in Springfield narrowed an already tight race in the Atlantic Division. As it stands today Providence holds the number one spot by a .001 margin , while Charlotte and Springfield sit tied for second. The Checkers - who have four games remaining compared to seven and six left for Providence and Springfield, respectively - are still in contention for the division title, needing a combination of both wins for themselves and losses from the Bruins and Thunderbirds. Despite having already sewn up a playoff berth, finishing as one of the top two seeds would be a huge boon for the Checkers, as it would not only earn them home-ice advantage, it would secure them a bye to the second round - avoiding the opening best-of-three series.

QUICK HITS

BUMP IN THE ROAD

These past two games in Springfield were the first time the Checkers have lost consecutive games in any fashion since Feb. 26 and 27 - two defeats that pushed the team’s winless streak to four games before bouncing back with an 8-1-1-0 run.

BETWEEN THE PIPES

Christopher Gibson made just his fourth appearance since returning from injury on Saturday and was a key part of the Checkers coming away with a point. The veteran netminder is 2-0-2 in those four games while allowing a total of six goals - four of which came in one outing, meaning the netminder has allowed one or fewer regulation goals in three of his last four appearances. Joey Daccord, the other half of the tandem, saw his four-game winning streak snapped on Friday. He is still on a run of 14 consecutive outings without allowing more than three goals, however, surrendering a total of 25 goals across that stretch.

SEARCHING FOR GOALS

Over the weekend in Springfield the Checkers posted one goal in each contest, halting a streak of seven straight games with at least three tallies - a run that coincided with the team’s seven-game point streak. Thus far this season the Checkers are 36-7-3-0 when scoring three or more goals in a game and 4-18-2-0 when falling below that mark.

KILLING IT

The Checkers had gone seven consecutive games without surrendering a power-play goal before Klim Kostin’s conversion on Friday, but their PK responded nicely and remains on a hot streak. Over last week’s trio of road contests, the Checkers successfully killed 12 of 13 man advantages.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

One of many crucial stops Christopher Gibson made on Saturday to help the Checkers claim a point in the standings

Halfway through the third period and we're still tied because of THIS ? pic.twitter.com/K5WjuMv2V2

— x - Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) April 17, 2022

RECORD WATCH

• Zac Dalpe is one shy of becoming the fifth 30-goal scorer in franchise history
• Cole Schwindt is tied for the highest plus-minus rating by a forward in franchise history (+24)
• Connor Carrick is three shy of tying the franchise record for goals by a defenseman in a single season (13)
• Joey Daccord currently holds the highest single-season save percentage in franchise history (.924)

RANKS

• Zac Dalpe is tied for fifth in the AHL in goals (29)
• Cole Schwindt ranks seventh in the AHL overall, fifth among forwards and second among rookies in plus-minus (+24)
• Zac Dalpe is tied for seventh in the AHL in power-play goals (11)
• Cale Fleury leads the AHL in shorthanded assists (4)
• Serron Noel ranks fourth among AHL rookies in penalty minutes (74)
• Cole Schwindt is tied for fourth among AHL rookies in shorthanded goals (2)
• Connor Carrick is tied for sixth among league defensemen in goals (10)
• Connor Carrick is tied for second among defensemen in power-play goals (5) and shorthanded goals (1)
• Joey Daccord ranks third in the AHL in save percentage (.924) and is tied for fifth in goals-against average (2.33)

INJURIES

• Max McCormick - Out since 4/10
• Grigori Denisenko - Out since 1/15
• Max Gildon - Out since 12/19

Transactions

Incoming

• None

Outgoing

• None

Coming Up

By the Numbers

CATEGORY	RECORD	AHL RANK
Power play	19.5%	t-11th
Penalty kill	84.6%	2nd
Goals per game	3.29	10th
Shots per game	29.76	15th
Goals allowed per game	2.79	t-5th
Shots allowed per game	30.04	15th
Penalty minutes per game	12.14	20th

LEADERS

CATEGORY	LEADER(S)
Points	Alexander True (42), Cole Schwindt (40), Scott Wilson, Logan Hutsko (38)
Goals	Zac Dalpe (29), Scott Wilson (23), Cole Schwindt (19)
Assists	Aleksi Heponiemi, Logan Hutsko (28), Cale Fleury (26)
Power play goals	Zac Dalpe (11), Kole Lind (7), Scott Wilson (6)
Shorthanded goals	Five tied (2)
Game-winning goals	Scott Wilson (5), Zac Dalpe (4), Five tied (3)
Shots on goal	Zac Dalpe (194), Scott Wilson (154), Connor Carrick (150)
Penalty minutes	Kole Lind (106), Serron Noel (74), Connor Carrick (67)
Plus/minus	Cole Schwindt (+24), Max McCormick (+16), Henry Bowlby, Alexander True (+14)
Wins	Joey Daccord (18)
Goals-against average	Joey Daccord (2.33)
Save percentage	Joey Daccord (.924)