Weekly Report: December 21, 2015

The Checkers endured a busy four-game slate last week and came out with their best stretch of the season intact, having earned a point in each of their last six contests.

They will enjoy a break for the holidays before returning to action with a six-game road trip through California.

Week in Review

Iowa 4, Checkers 3 (OT)

Coming off a pair of impressive wins in Texas, the Checkers welcomed the last-place Wild to town just a few weeks after sweeping them. Things started off well for the Checkers, as they built a 2-0 lead through 40 minutes thanks to a pair of tallies from longtime tandem Michal Jordan and Rasmus Rissanen. The Wild would not roll over, however, scoring twice to tie the game midway through the final frame. It looked as if the Checkers would pull off another patented late win when Brock McGinn lit the lamp with under four minutes to play, but the Wld came through with the equalizer with the extra attacker to force overtime. In the extra period it was Zack Mitchell who netted the winner for Iowa, threading a wrister that beat Drew MacIntyre's five-hole to clinch two points for the visitors. Full recap

Checkers 3, Iowa 2

In the rematch two nights later, the Checkers again jumped out front early, with Michal Jordan potting two goals in the first frame that held up and, once again, gave the Checkers a 2-0 advantage heading into the third. The Wild attempted to kickstart another comeback, pulling within one with a tally of their own early in the frame, but Drayson Bowman found the back of the net with five minutes left in regulation to give the Checkers an insurance marker. The Wild would add another shortly after, but Charlotte buckled down and survived to take the 3-2 win. Full recap

Checkers 4, Lake Erie 1

Playing their third game in five nights, the Checkers were locked in a scoreless battle with the Lake Erie Monsters until an outburst in the second period that saw them rack up three goals in just 77 seconds to blow the game wide open. The Monsters found their way onto the board later in that frame, but it wasn't enough, as Trevor Carrick iced the game with an empty netter to seal the 4-1 victory. Daniel Altshuller earned the win in his AHL debut, turning aside 36 of the 37 shots he saw from Lake Erie, including all 19 in the third period. Full recap

Checkers 4, Lake Erie 3 (OT)

The Checkers ended their final stretch before the holiday break with a big overtime win to sweep the Monsters. The two squads traded blows, with T.J. Hensick notching his second goal of the game to give the home team a 3-2 lead heading into the final period. But the Monsters battled back and evened things once again midway through the third. Lake Erie had a huge chance to put things away with back-to-back power plays in the final five minutes, but the Checkers came away with two crucial kills to carry the game into overtime. In the extra period it was the dynamic duo of Brock McGinn and Derek Ryan combining on the game winner to send the Checkers into the break with a season-best six-game point streak. Full recap

Three Stars Of The Week

Notables

Ryan Rolling

Already the team's leading scorer and most consistent offensive threat, Derek Ryan has caught fire as of late. The captain is currently on a six-game point streak, the longest by a Checkers player this season, racking up 11 points (4g, 7a) along that stretch. Over the last week, Ryan has rocketed up the league rankings and is currently tied for second in the AHL in scoring.

Brock Solid

Since returning from his second NHL stint with the Hurricanes on Dec. 9, Brock McGinn has been a scoring machine. The reigning AHL Player of the Week has put up nine points (4g, 5a) in six games since returning to Charlotte. McGinn ranks second on the team in goals despite having played in only 16 games.

Dynamic Duo

Much of Ryan and McGinn's flood of offensive production is a result of their chemistry together, as the two have been mainstays on the Checkers' top line.

Of McGinn's 10 goals this season, Ryan has assisted on seven of them, with all but one of those being the primary helper. Of Ryan's six goals this season in games in which they were both in the lineup, McGinn has assisted on five on them.

Going Streaking

Sunday's overtime win against Lake Erie gave the Checkers' at least one point in the standings in each of their last six games. It marks the longest such streak for the team this season and the longest since the 2012-13 campaign. Since Nov. 22, the Checkers have won nine of their last 13 contests.

Home For The Holidays

The Checkers closed out their schedule Sunday and will now enjoy a week off for the holidays. With a .589 points percentage, Charlotte has its best record heading into the break since 2012-13.

The big question is how the team's momentum will carry over when they return to action next week. In the previous five seasons, the Checkers have entered the break on a point streak three times. But two of those instances saw the Checkers struggle coming back, including last season, when the Checkers went into the break on a three-game point streak and then went 1-3-1-0 on the other side.

Closing 2015 Strong

With only two games remaining this month, the Checkers will be looking to achieve the franchise's best December record. After dropping a two-game series to the Ontario Reign, the Checkers have bounced back and now sit at 5-2-1-0 for the month. The team has only had a winning record in December twice in their previous five seasons (2010-11 and 2013-14). It will also mark the first time since 2012-13 that the team has finished the months of October, November and December with a winning percentage of .500 or better.

Road Warriors

The Checkers' 9-5-0-0 record away from home this season is the franchise's best road start since 2012-13 when they started 10-2-0-2. Last season, Charlotte only won 12 road games all season, with their ninth one not coming until March 21.

The team's nine road wins are also the third-highest total in the AHL. They head to California after the break having won four of their last five away from home.

Coming Through In The Clutch

The Checkers have seen seven of their games go beyond regulation this season and have come away with two points in the standings six times (twice in overtime, four times in a shootout). Their .857 winning percentage in overtime games is the highest in the AHL.

Altshuller Starts Strong

After having a dominant start to the season in the ECHL, netminder Daniel Altshuller made his AHL debut against the Iowa Wild on Dec. 17, making 24 saves and earning the victory. He was then tapped to start the next two contests, winning both and coming away with a 1.97 goals-against average and .933 save percentage to start his AHL career.

Altshuller is the second goalie in Checkers' history to win each of his first three AHL starts, behind John Muse, who started 5-0-0 in 2011-12.

Ranks

• Derek Ryan is tied for 2nd in the AHL in scoring (28)
• Zach Boychuk is tied for third in the AHL in shots on goal (88)
• Trevor Carrick is tied for third among AHL defensemen in goals (7) and tied for sixth in points (20)

Injuries

• Brendan Woods missed seven games starting 12/6
• Carter Sandlak missed three games starting 12/17

Suspensions

• Ryan Murphy missed three games from 12/15 to 12/19

Milestones

• Michal Jordan became the second player in franchise history to play 300 games with the Checkers on 12/19
• Trevor Carrick recorded his 50th pro point on 12/19
• Kyle Hagel played in his 300th AHL game on 12/19

Transactions

Incoming

• December 21 - (G) Rasmus Tirronen recalled from Florida (ECHL)

Outgoing

• December 20 - (F) Ryan Rashid released from PTO
• December 21 - (D) Trevor Carrick assigned to Team Canada
• December 21 - (G) Drew MacIntyre assigned to Team Canada
• December 21 - (D) Michal Jordan recalled from conditioning stint by Carolina (NHL)
• December 21 - (LW) Drayson Bowman released from PTO

Coming Up

By the Numbers

Team Statistics
CATEGORY	RECORD	AHL RANK	LAST WEEK
Power play	19.2%	6th	8th
Penalty kill	82.8%	17th	14th
Goals per game	3.11	t-6th	t-7th
Shots per game	30.96	9th	10th
Goals allowed per game	3.11	t-22nd	24th
Shots allowed per game	28.61	11th	11th
Penalty minutes per game	13.89	12th	19th

Team Leaders
CATEGORY	LEADER(S)
Points	Derek Ryan (28), Trevor Carrick(20), Brock McGinn (16)
Goals	Derek Ryan (12), Brock McGinn (10), Trevor Carrick (7)
Assists	Derek Ryan (16), Trevor Carrick (13), Zach Boychuk (12)
Power play goals	Derek Ryan (4), Trevor Carrick, Brock McGinn (3)
Shorthanded goals	Patrick Brown, Michal Jordan (1)
Game-winning goals	Derek Ryan (3), Brock McGinn (2)
Shots on goal	Zach Boychuk (88), Derek Ryan (71), Trevor Carrick (68)
Penalty minutes	Kyle Hagel (46), Mike Cornell (40), Danny Biega (34)
Plus/minus	Five tied (+3)
Wins	Drew MacIntyre (9)
Goals-against average	Daniel Altshuller (1.97)
Save percentage	Daniel Altshuller (.933)