The Checkers are treking back out for their second straight weekend on the road, this time visiting Providence and Springfield on back-to-back days.
THE MATCHUP
- Record/Standings
- CLT - 1-1-0-0
- PRO - 0-3-0-0
- SPR - 2-0-0-0
- Power Play / Penalty Kill
- CLT - 25.0% / 100.0%
- PRO - 0.0% / 90.9%
- SPR - 14.3% / 100.0%
- Offense / Defense
- CLT - 3.50 GF/Game / 2.50 GA/Game
- PRO - 0.33 GF/Game / 2.00 GA/Game
- SPR - 2.50 GF/Game / 1.00 GA/Game
- Head-To-Head
- vs PRO - 0-0-0-0
- vs SPR - 0-0-0-0
THE STORYLINES
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
This marks the second consecutive weekend to start the season that the Checkers will be on the road. To kick off the year they played a pair in Hershey last weekend, earning a series split. This trip they’ll face two different teams on back-to-back days - first visiting the winless Bruins, who have scored just one goal through three games thus far, then the undefeated Thunderbirds, who beat the Penguins in overtime before shutting out the Bruins the next night and are hosting the Rocket Saturday.KILLING IT
Charlotte’s penalty kill is off to another strong start. After leading the league last season, the unit is perfect through eight times shorthanded this season. They’ll look to keep that hot streak going against a Springfield team that is 1-for-7 on the man advantage thus far and a Bruins squad that is scoreless on 15 power plays.FINISH THEM
It’s a small sample size, but the Checkers have shown the ability to ramp up late in games this season. Five of their seven goals scored this season have come in the third period - they struck three times in the third to bury the Bears 5-2 in the season opener, then lit the lamp twice in the following night’s rematch to nearly complete the comeback. Additionally, 25 of the team’s 58 total shots on goal thus far have come in the final frame.THE QUOTES
QUOTES
Coach Geordie Kinnear on this week of practice"We haven’t had a lot of practice time with the group. We still have a lot of bodies, so it’s about being efficient on the ice. We talk about understanding how things need to be done at practice, how they should look. I think my number one job right now is to get everyone in sync and organized, which allows them to go out and do what they do best."
Kinnear on managing the large roster and high number of veterans
"Most important for me in how I coach and how I do things is honesty. You build relationships with people and I think it takes care of itself. Is it ideal? No, but as long as you’re honest and do everything with integrity, people are pulling the rope in the right direction. Sometimes it doesn’t go your way at the start, but if you stay patient and work hard, when you get an opportunity it usually works in your favor. I just saw a good quote the other day - ‘There’s always going to be adversity, but that never defeats somebody. It’s the actual response that matters.’ We’re looking for good responses from people, but do it with integrity and honesty. I think what I’m most excited about with this group is that we have a lot of good people that care about each other. That’s important moving forward."
Kinnear on starting the season with four games on the road
"Now they’re forced to communicate, go out to dinner with each other, start to learn away from the rink what everyone’s about. So I think there’s an advantage there. On the ice, hockey is hockey for me."
Kinnear on Alex Petrovic
"I know he’s a really good person. His career, he’s been up in different situations but always remained a true pro. I think the composure, how to do things right, lead by example - he’s going to help us a lot."
Kinnear on injury updates
"[Kai and Cole Scwhindt] will be travelling. It's still a little bit for [Brett Chorske and MacKenzie Entwistle], they won't be travelling with us."
THE PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Charlotte
- Jack Devine - Goals in each of the first two games
- Nate Smith - Three goals in last two games
- Cole Schwindt - One assist in one game
- Providence
- Brendan Gaunce - One goal in last three games
- Joey Abate - One assist in last three games
- Ivan Ivan - One assist in last three games
- Springfield
- Justin Carbonneau - Three points in last two games
- TJ Tynan - Four points in last two games
- Aleksanteri Kaskimaki - Four points in last two games
THE INFO
Both of this weekend's games are available to stream via AHLTV on FloHockey! Click here to watch.Fans can also listen to the radio broadcast on the Checkers App or online.
