Weekly Report: Feb. 2, 2015

In desperate need of some continued momentum in order to make up ground in the standings, the Checkers came out of the All-Star break flat, dropping a pair of games in the Lone Star State.

After heading into the break having earned points in seven of their last ten games, the Checkers were unable to carry that over, suffering their worst two-game stretch of the season, losing in back-to-back nights to San Antonio and Texas by a combined score of 9-2.

The team will now have a week of practice as they prepare to host the Chicago Wolves for a two-game series this weekend.

Week in Review

San Antonio 5, Checkers 2

The Checkers returned from their week off with a two-game road trip to Texas, kicking things off with a tilt against the San Antonio Rampage. The game started with a bang, with the Rampage jumping out to a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes. Chad LaRose extended his point-streak to six games and pulled the Checkers within one goal entering the final frame, but a late strike from Bobby Butler put the game out of reach and an empty netter sealed the 5-2 Rampage victory.Full recap

Texas 4, Checkers 0

The Checkers wrapped up the back-to-back trip with a contest against the Texas Stars the next night. Despite being dominated in the first period in terms of shots on goal, the Checkers managed to escape down just one goal. The visitors rebounded in the second, outshooting the Stars 13-11, but couldn't break through on the scoreboard, falling behind 2-0 heading into the final period. Texas pumped in two more goals in the first half of the third to pull away, and the Checkers could not solve Jussi Rynnas, getting shut out for the fourth time this season. Drew MacIntyre, making his third straight start, faced a season-high 50 shots, with his 46 saves coming one short of the season-high for a Checkers goalie this year.Full recap

Notables

LaRose Takes Over

After recording a season-long six-game point streak (3g, 3a), which came to an end Saturday night, Chad LaRose has taken sole posession of the team scoring lead with 25 points (12g, 13a). The alternate captain has put up 14 of those points in his last 18 games (8g, 6a). In addition to being the team's overall points leader, he also leads the team in shorthanded points (three - t-4th AHL), is tied for second in power-play points (six) and leads the team in shots on goal (115).

LaRose's point streak marks the Checkers' longest of the season, eclipsing his own previous five-game run and another by Ryan Murphy, both of which occurred in December. It also ties the longest of his professional career set during his previous AHL season (4g, 7a for Lowell between Nov. 18-26, 2005).

LaRose, a 32-year-old veteran of 508 NHL games with Carolina, is playing in the AHL for the first time since 2005-06 after taking last season away from hockey. He now has 109 points (53g, 56a) in 171 career AHL games with Lowell and Charlotte.

Killing It

Including a perfect 5-for-5 performance in their last game in Texas on Jan. 31, the Checkers have negated 25 of their opponents' last 26 power plays (96.2 percent) over their last six games dating back to Jan. 16. During that time, they have risen to ninth in the AHL with a season-long percentage of 85.8.

The Checkers have also been able to produce offense while shorthanded, as evidenced by their six shorthanded goals that rank tied for fourth in the league and are two more than their league-low total from all of last season. Chad LaRose has been their most productive shorthanded player with a team-leading three points while shorthanded (t-4th AHL).

Rough Trip

The Checkers' back-to-back losses this past weekend marked the first time that they have dropped consecutive road contests since Dec. 10 and 12. With a combined losing deficit of 9-2, the losses marked the worst two-game stretch that the Checkers have seen this season in terms of goal differential.

Lack Of Firepower

As evidenced this weekend, the Checkers continue to be plauged by an inability to put pucks in the back of the net, as they have sunk back to the cellar in terms of goals per game with a paltry 2.16. The 4-0 loss in Texas on 1/31 was the fourth time this season that the Checkers have been shut out, putting them two shy of the franchise's worst mark, set in 2011-12. They, along with Toronto, are one of just two teams in the AHL with two or fewer 20-point scorers on their roster (Chad LaRose and Justin Shugg), and on top of that, LaRose's 25 points are tied for the second-lowest for a team-leader in the AHL.

Overtimes

Six of the Checkers' nine overtime games this season have been decided prior to the shootout. Charlotte is 1-5 in those games, with only Texas (2-9) owning a lower winning percentage in games decided during the seven-minute period. Meanwhile, the Checkers are 2-1 in the shootout.

Including their most recent overtime in Norfolk on Jan. 21, the Checkers gave up the tying goal with less than 3:30 remaining in regulation in four of their last five overtime losses.

Ranks

• Kyle Hagel is tied for the AHL lead in major penalties (15)
• Chad LaRose is tied for the AHL lead in shorthanded assists (3) and is tied for fourth in shorthanded points (3)
• Greg Nemisz leads the league in shooting percentage (25.0%)
• Drew MacIntyre ranks third in the AHL in saves (871), third in minutes (1782) and tied for 13th in wins (13)

Injuries

• Brock McGinn - missed one game starting 1/31
• Brendan Woods - missed two games starting 1/30
• Gabriel Desjardins - missed 12 game starting 1/4
• Greg Nemisz - missed 24 games starting 12/8 (out for season)

Milestones

• Kyle Hagel recorded his 950th pro penalty minute on 1/30
• Ben Holmstrom recorded his 450th pro penalty minute on 1/31

Transactions

Incoming

• Jan. 27 - (RW) Alex Aleardi recalled from Florida (ECHL) to Charlotte (AHL)

Outgoing

• Jan. 27 - (D) Ryan Murphy recalled by Carolina (NHL)

Coming Up

By the Numbers

Team Statistics
CATEGORY	RECORD	AHL RANK	LAST WEEK
Power play	9.6%	30th	30th
Penalty kill	85.8%	t-8th	10th
Goals per game	2.16	30th	29th
Shots per game	28.60	25th	26th
Goals allowed per game	2.98	t-21st	21st
Shots allowed per game	32.42	26th	26th
Penalty minutes per game	18.87	23rd	22nd

Team Leaders
CATEGORY	LEADER(S)
Points	Chad LaRose (25), Justin Shugg (21), Brendan Woods (18)
Goals	Justin Shugg (13), Chad LaRose (12), Brendan Woods, Greg Nemisz (8)
Assists	Chad LaRose (13), Brendan Woods, Danny Biega (10)
Power play goals	Justin Shugg, Chad LaRose (4)
Shorthanded goals	Greg Nemisz, Brendan Woods (2)
Game-winning goals	Brendan Woods, Greg Nemisz, Chad LaRose (2)
Shots on goal	Chad LaRose (115), Phil Di Giuseppe (100), Brock McGinn (90)
Penalty minutes	Kyle Hagel (111), Keegan Lowe (97), Brendan Woods (76)
Plus/minus	Dennis Robertson (+3), Beau Schmitz (+2), Greg Nemisz, Zach Boychuk (+1)
Wins	Drew MacIntyre (13)
Goals-against average	Drew MacIntyre (2.59)
Save percentage	Drew MacIntyre (.919)