Weekly Report: April 11, 2016

The Checkers wrapped up the home portion of their regular season schedule with a tough week against two playoff-bound division rivals.

The destiny of Charlotte’s season now rests in the balance of a pair of games in Cleveland against the Lake Erie Monsters at the end of this week.

Week in Review

Checkers 2, Rockford 1 (OT)

The Checkers’ final home stand rolled along as they squared off with the Rockford IceHogs for the fifth time in under four weeks. The Checkers were all over the visitors, outshooting them 42-22, but Brendan Woods’ early first period goal would mark their only goal in regulation. Rockford’s Vinnie Hinostroza found the equalizer midway through the final frame and the contest would head to overtime. The extra frame was tightly contested and it looked like things would have to be decided in a shootout, but with exactly one minute to go Anthony Camara crashed the net and put home a rebound to earn the Checkers a 2-1 win and a crucial two points in the standings. Full recap

Rockford 2, Checkers 1

The next night’s rematch would prove to be very similar to the previous game, as the Checkers vastly outshot the IceHogs but neither side could produce much offensively. Rockford pushed ahead to a two-goal lead when captain Jake Dowell lit the lamp early in the third, but red-hot Anthony Camara pulled the Checkers back within striking distance midway through the frame. But despite a huge push down the stretch, including outshooting their opponents 18-2 in the third period, the Checkers could not find a way to solve IceHogs netminder Mac Carruth and stumbled to a 2-1 defeat. Full recap

Milwaukee 6, Checkers 3

Next up for the Checkers was a two-game slate with the Central Division-leading Milwaukee Admirals. Charlotte started off strong, with Brody Sutter opening the scoring early in the first and then erasing the Admirals’ answer quickly in the second. Things exploded in the middle frame, with the visitors scoring four goals on just six shots to carry a 5-3 lead into the third, where Adam Payerl would notch his second of the night to cement the Admirals’ lopsided victory. Full recap

Milwaukee 4, Checkers 2

Finishing their home schedule with a quick turnaround for a noon start the next day, the Checkers put up a fight but couldn’t find a way past the surging Admirals. Despite a strike from David Wohlberg early on in the second, the Checkers found themselves down by two goals heading into the final minute of the period. But Justin Shugg chipped in a rebound with just 15 seconds remaining on the clock to pull his team within one and breathe life into them heading into the final 20 minutes. The Checkers came up with a big push, including a few posts and a late power play, but they couldn’t produce the equalizer, and an empty netter for Milwaukee in the final minute squashed the home team’s hopes for a comeback and sealed a 4-2 Admirals win. Full recap

Three Stars Of The Week

Notables

Playoff Picture

Despite losing their third straight game on Sunday, the Checkers retain control of their playoff destiny with two games remaining in the regular season.

All Charlotte has to do to guarantee its place in the postseason is win its final two regular-season games at Lake Erie this Thursday and Friday. Doing so would make whatever its chief competition for the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division, San Jose, accomplishes in its final two games against Stockton on Saturday and Sunday irrelevant.

Another way to explain it is that Charlotte cannot allow San Jose to earn more points than it does in the final week of the season. Should the Checkers drop even one point against Lake Erie, they would need San Jose to do the same against Stockton this weekend to book a trip to the playoffs.

Speaking of Stockton, the Heat remain alive as the only other team in the Western Conference with a chance of making the postseason, though they would have to win each of their three remaining games, the next of which is Tuesday at Bakersfield, to have any shot whatsoever.

Down To The Wire

This will mark the third instance in the Checkers’ six-year AHL history that the team’s playoff hopes will be decided in the final two games of the regular season. The most recent occurrence was in the 2013-14 campaign when the Checkers traveled to Milwaukee for the second-to-last game of the season. They would fall to the Admirals 5-1 which, combined with Oklahoma City earning a point on the same night, eliminated Charlotte for playoff contention. Two seasons prior, a nearly identical situation happened, with the Checkers heading to Milwaukee on the last day of the regular season needing just one point but losing 6-1 to fall short.

Should the Checkers make the playoffs this season, it would be the first time since 2012-13. If they don’t, they would join the Iowa Wild as the only team to not make the playoffs in any of the last three seasons (Bridgeport would be in that group as well should they fall out of their race).

Struggles Between The Pipes

Since joining the team at the AHL trade deadline, John Muse has taken over the goaltending reins for Charlotte, starting 16 of the last 18 contests. Muse started his stint strong but hit a bump in production last week. He started all four games but after earning a 21-save 2-1 win in the first game, Muse surrendered eight goals on 55 shots over the next three, good for a 0.855 save percentage.

Daniel Altshuller entered Saturday’s game in the second period to relieve Muse but didn’t fare much better. Getting thrown in against a lethal Milwaukee club, the rookie let in each of the Admirals’ first two shots and finished with three goals allowed on eight shots.

Missing The Captain

The Checkers’ lineup suffered a serious blow on Thursday night when their captain, Derek Ryan, suffered an injury in Carolina’s final home game against Montreal. There was no immediate update from Carolina on the condition of Ryan, whose 12 points in nine games between March 19 and April 6 were the most of any AHL player, though Checkers coach Mark Morris acknowledged Friday that, “It doesn’t look good.” Carolina head coach gave an update Saturday that Ryan was "progressing well".

An AHL All-Star this season, Ryan leads the Checkers in goals, assists and points.

Smile For The Camara

Since joining the Checkers in a deadline-day trade with the Boston Bruins involving John-Michael Liles, Anthony Camara has posted eight points in 13 games. Camara’s three goals as a Checker equal what he posted in the last season and a half with Providence, where he registered 13 points (3g, 10a) in his last 92 contests.

Shuggernaut

Last season’s leading scorer, Justin Shugg put up three points in last week’s four games, giving him seven points in his last eight contests since returning from injury.

Milestones In Sight

With two games remaining on the regular season schedule, several players have a chance to land their names on the Checkers' record book.

Leading the team for the second straight season, Kyle Hagel needs one more penalty minute to take over sole possession of the second-highest single-season total in franchise history. He is currently tied with Justin Soryal’s 2011-12, though he trails Zack Fitzgerald’s 2010-11 total by 65 minutes.

David Wohlberg is the ninth player in franchise history with two shorthanded goals in a single season, and one more would tie him with Zac Dalpe for the most.

Trevor Carrick needs one more goal to tie Bobby Sanguinetti’s 2011-12 campaign for second-most in a single season by a defenseman. The record is held by Mark Flood, who potted 13 in 2013-14.

Mike Cornell is six away from matching Matt Corrente’s 136 penalty minutes in 2013-14, the second-most by a blue liner in franchise history behind Fitzgerald.

Sergey Tolchinsky needs three points to move into a tie with Victor Rask for the second-most points in a season by a rookie.

By The Period

The Checkers snapped a perfect streak by allowing first period goals in both games to Milwaukee, but have still been stingy in opening frames as of late. They have surrendered just three goals in their last 13 first periods.

The second period has been a different story, however. Over their last 12 contests, the Checkers have given up 19 goals in the middle frame, including at least one in 11 of those games. On the season, Charlotte has been outscored 83-56, the fourth-biggest differential in the league.

The Checkers have been best in the third period overall this season, with their 84 goals standing as the third most in the AHL.

Ranks

• Kyle Hagel is tied for the AHL lead in major penalties (18) and fourth in penalty minutes (164)
• Mike Cornell leads all AHL defensemen and is tied for third in the league overall in major penalties (16)
• John Muse ranks 17th in the AHL in goals against average
• Trevor Carrick is tied for seventh among league defensemen in scoring (41)

Injuries

• Danny Biega missed 42 games starting 1/8
• Dane Fox missed 11 games starting 3/12
• Andrew Miller missed eight games starting 3/26
• Rasmus Rissanen missed eight games starting 3/26
• Blair Jones missed four games starting 4/5

Transactions

Incoming

• April 10 - (LW) Brendan Woods assigned by Carolina (NHL)
• April 8 - (C) Patrick Brown assigned by Carolina (NHL)
• April 6 - (LW) Sergey Tolchinsky assigned by Carolina (NHL)

Outgoing

• April 11 - (F) Ryan Rashid released from PTO
• April 11 - (C) Derek Arnold released from PTO
• April 7 - (C) Derek Ryan recalled by Carolina (NHL)

By the Numbers

Team Statistics
CATEGORY	RECORD	AHL RANK	LAST WEEK
Power play	19.0%	8th	t-6th
Penalty kill	83.8%	t-13th	12th
Goals per game	2.85	t-12th	10th
Shots per game	30.39	12th	13th
Goals allowed per game	2.99	18th	t-18th
Shots allowed per game	28.66	8th	8th
Penalty minutes per game	14.35	15th	16th

Team Leaders
CATEGORY	LEADER(S)
Points	Andrew Miller (44), Trevor Carrick (41), Sergey Tolchinsky (36)
Goals	Andrew Miller (18), Brock McGinn (17), Sergey Tolchinsky (14)
Assists	Trevor Carrick (32), Andrew Miller (26), Jake Chelios (23)
Power play goals	Brock McGinn (7), Andrew Miller (6), Three tied (4)
Shorthanded goals	David Wohlberg (2)
Game-winning goals	Andrew Miller (5), Blair Jones (3), Four tied (2)
Shots on goal	Trevor Carrick (151), Justin Shugg (124), Sergey Tolchinsky (121)
Penalty minutes	Kyle Hagel (164), Mike Cornell (130), Keegan Lowe (71)
Plus/minus	Dennis Robertson (+14), Ethan Werek, Valentin Zykov (+7)
Wins	John Muse (18)
Goals-against average	John Muse (2.54)
Save percentage	John Muse (.910)