Weekly Report: Dec. 3, 2014

The Checkers are currently enjoying their best stretch of the season, earning points in their last three overall and in each of their last five home games.

After continuing to struggle away from home, falling to Norfolk Wednesday night to extend their road winless streak to a franchise-worst six games, the Checkers returned to Time Warner Cable Arena, where they have seen much more success, to begin a five-game home stand. A weekend sweep of Milwaukee gave Charlotte consecutive victories for the first time this season, and despite a collapse Tuesday night that led to Norfolk winning in overtime, the Checkers have earned points in each of their last five home games.

The team will complete their extended home stand this weekend, taking on the Iowa Wild, who possess the AHL's worst record, Saturday and Monday, before hitting the road for a three-game stretch.

Week in Review

Norfolk 4, Checkers 1

Just one week removed from a 6-2 shellacking at the hands of the Checkers, Norfolk got revenge on their home ice, dropping Charlotte 4-1. Yann Danis was spectacular in goal, turning aside 30 of the 31 shots he faced, and Louis Leblanc added two tallys to lead the Admirals to the victory. Brendan Woods was the lone goal scorer for the Checkers, breaking up Danis' shutout early in the third period. The loss extended Charlotte's road winless streak to six games, tying the franchise's worst skid. Full recap

Checkers 5, Milwaukee 4

In front of a raucous crowd on Hornets Night, the Checkers prevailed in a thriller against the Milwaukee Admirals, pushing their home winning streak to three games. After jumping out to a 3-0 lead early in the second period, Charlotte surrendered three unanswered strikes to the Admirals to tie the game heading into the final frame. The two squads exchanged goals late in regulation before rookie Phil Di Giuseppe netted the game-winner with just 90 seconds remaining. The game featured a season-high 108 combined penalty minutes, 82 of which came as a result of a dust-up midway through the third that saw Admirals goalie Magnus Hellberg skate the length of the ice to exchange punches with John Muse, leading to game misconducts for them both. Full recap

Checkers 3, Milwaukee 2 (SO)

The two clubs followed up the fireworks from the night before with a much more subdued contest, with the Checkers ultimately securing the win via a shootout. Finding themselves down a goal in the third period, the Checkers knotted the game when A.J. Jenks batted a rebound out of mid-air and into the net. After a fruitless overtime that saw Charlotte get their first taste of the AHL's new format, the game proceeded to a shootout, where Drew MacIntyre came up huge, stonewalling all three shooters he faced. Justin Shugg lit the lamp for the Checkers and clinched the team's first consecutive wins of the season. Full Recap

Norfolk 3, Checkers 2 (OT)

The Checkers finished up the most densely packed part of their schedule so far Tuesday night, suffering a heart-breaking collapse en route to a 3-2 overtime loss. The Checkers held a lead for the majority of the game, but Norfolk's Nic Kerdiles came up with two goals in the final three minutes of regulation to send the game to overtime. Then, with just seven seconds left in the extra frame, Rickard Rakell found the back of the net to lift Norfolk to their third win in the last four games. John Muse faced a barrage of offense and stood tall against most of it, making 47 saves, a season-high, on 50 shots. Despite the loss, the Checkers earned a point in the standings, giving them points in their last five home contests. Full Recap

Notables

Home Sweet Home

Heading into Tuesday's matchup with Norfolk, the Checkers had won four straight on home ice, one away from the franchise-best streak. Despite snapping that run with the overtime loss, they still earned a point, giving them five consecutive home games with a point, two shy of the best mark, set in 2012-13.

The Checkers were also able to put together their first back-to-back wins of the season this weekend, sweeping a Milwaukee team that entered the series with six wins in their last nine games and boasted the league's best goalie and stingiest defense. That marked the first winning streak since March 29-30 of last season.

This recent success at home is a stark contrast to the team's results on the road, where the Checkers have lost four straight and failed to record a point in six straight. Charlotte will enjoy two more games in the friendly confines of Time Warner Cable Arena this weekend before heading out on a three-game road trip.

Shorthanded Firepower

The Checkers' five shorthanded goals are tied for the second-most in the league and are two more than their league-low total from all of last season.

Chad LaRose leads the league in shorthanded assists and is tied for second in shorthanded points (3). Greg Nemisz and Brendan Woods share the team lead with two shorthanded markers apiece, tying them both for the league lead as well.

Shootout Success

Including Sunday's win over Milwaukee in their first opportunity of the season, the Checkers have won each of their last four shootouts dating back to March 7 of last season.

With the only goal of Sunday's win, Justin Shugg is now tied with Zac Dalpe for the second-most shootout goals in franchise history (seven in 14 attempts - 50 percent). Chris Terry is the franchise's all time leader with 16 shootout goals in 36 attempts (44.4 percent).

Finding Their Groove

After recording just three points in his first 13 contests, Brock McGinn seems to have found his scoring touch, racking up six points in his last six games. The rookie has pulled into third in goals on the team and is tied for second in points. His 53 shots are the most by a Checkers player this season.

Brendan Woods, who roared out of the gates with four assists in his first six games, has scored twice in the last four contests, bringing his season point total to eight (3g, 5a), matching his total from all of last season. Two of Woods' goals have come shorthanded, tied for the most in the league.

Shuggernaut

Since returning from an early season injury, Justin Shugg has been on fire. The forward has recorded eight points in the nine games since getting back in the lineup, including notching goals in each of his first four games back. Shugg's seven goals rank second on the team, despite playing in only 12 games. It has also put him nearly halfway to his career-high for goals in a season (16).

With a quick strike just 25 seconds into Tuesday's contest, Shugg now has 50 professional goals and has moved into the top 10 of the Checkers all-time scoring list.

Worst Behavior

With 22.30 penalty minutes per game, the Checkers are the fifth most penalized team in the AHL. They rank fourth in major penalties with 28, nine of which are courtesy of Kyle Hagel, who leads all AHL players in the category. Rasmus Rissanen has been assessed 15 minor penalties, the third highest total in the league. Those penalties have cost the team as of late, as opposing teams are 6 for 18 with the man-advantage against the Checkers over the last four games.

Ranks

• Forward Kyle Hagel leads the AHL in major penalties (9)
• Defenseman Rasmus Rissanen ranks third in the league in minor penalties (15)
• Forward Chad LaRose leads the AHL in shorthanded assists and is tied for second in shorthanded points
• Forward Greg Nemisz ranks seventh in the league in shooting percentage (27.6%) and Justin Shugg ranks 10th (26.9)

Injuries

• Patrick Brown - missed 10 games starting 11/10
• Brody Sutter - missed eight game starting 11/15
• Jared Staal - missed seven games starting 11/18

Milestones

• Justin Shugg scored his 50th professional goal on 12/2
• Chad LaRose recorded his 400th professional penalty minute on 11/30 and his 100th AHL penalty minute on 12/2
• Kyle Hagel played in his 300th professional game on 11/30
• Chris Terry recorded his 300th AHL point on 11/29
• Beau Schmitz played in his 50th AHL game on 11/29

Transactions

Incoming

• Nov. 25 - (LW) Chris Terry assigned to Charlotte on a conditioning loan from Carolina (NHL)

Outgoing

• Dec. 3 - (LW) Kyle Jean released from PTO
• Dec. 3 - (LW) Gabriel Desjardins released from PTO
• Nov. 25 - (RW) Alex Aleardi assigned to Florida (ECHL) from Charlotte
• Nov. 25 - (D) Michal Jordan recalled to Carolina (NHL) from Charlotte

Coming Up

By the Numbers

Team Statistics
CATEGORY	RECORD	AHL RANK	LAST WEEK
Power play	10.8%	29th	28th
Penalty kill	81.4%	19th	9th
Goals per game	2.35	28th	28th
Shots per game	27.50	26th	25th
Goals allowed per game	3.15	t-23rd	22nd
Shots allowed per game	31.20	18th	17th
Penalty minutes per game	22.30	26th	24th

Team Leaders
CATEGORY	LEADER(S)
Points	Greg Nemisz (14), Justin Shugg, Brock McGinn, Phil Di Giuseppe, Chad LaRose (9)
Goals	Greg Nemisz (8), Justin Shugg (7), Brock McGinn (5)
Assists	Chad LaRose, Ryan Murphy (7), Phil Di Giuseppe, Greg Nemisz, Trevor Carrick (6)
Power play goals	Justin Shugg (3)
Shorthanded goals	Greg Nemisz, Brendan Woods (2)
Game-winning goals	Greg Nemisz (2)
Shots on goal	Brock McGinn (53), Chad LaRose (47), Phil Di Giuseppe (44)
Penalty minutes	Kyle Hagel (63), Keegan Lowe (56), Brendan Woods (49)
Plus/minus	Phil Di Giuseppe (+5), Greg Nemisz, Rasmus Rissanen, Beau Schmitz (+2)
Wins	Drew MacIntyre (6)
Goals-against average	John Muse, Drew MacIntyre (2.82)
Save percentage	Drew MacIntyre (.909)