Weekly Report: Jan. 16, 2023

After a tough start to the week, the Checkers got things back on track by taking three of four points over the weekend.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Checkers 0, Wolf Pack 5

Checkers 2, Wolf Pack 3

Checkers 3, Penguins 1

Checkers 2, Penguins 3 (SO)

Three Stars Of The Week

QUICK HITS

THE ALMIGHTY ATLANTIC

By claiming three of a possible four points against the Penguins over the weekend, the Checkers hoisted themselves into sole possession of third place in the Atlantic Division. Hershey and Providence have established themselves as the leaders of the division, holding a nine and 12-point edge on Charlotte’s 42, respectively, while the rest of the Atlantic remains quite tight. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton trail the Checkers by a single point, followed by a three-team gridlock at 37 points and Springfield in the cellar at 35.

REINFORCEMENTS

The Checkers received two key pieces back from the NHL this week in Matt Kiersted and Zac Dalpe. Both skaters had been with Florida since their most recent appearance with Charlotte on Dec. 3 before returning to Charlotte for the matchups against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. They made their presence felt in Sunday’s tilt, as Dalpe set up Kiersted for a big goal to help the Checkers claim a point in the standings.

SEARCHING FOR OFFENSE

Offensive production hasn’t come easy for the Checkers as of late. Charlotte has logged seven total goals over its last four contests - posting a 1-2-0-1 record over that stretch. Looking back farther, the Checkers have scored more than three goals just twice in their last 16 games with a 7-8-0-1 record for that chunk of the schedule.

LOCKING IT DOWN

On the flip side, the Checkers have been stingy defensively lately. They have allowed two or fewer goals in seven of their last 11 games, and have allowed more than three goals in just two of those last 11.

A big part of that has been the play between the pipes. Alex Lyon - currently in the NHL with Florida - has surrendered two or fewer goals in three of this last four starts, while rookie Mack Guzda has achieved that mark in four of his last five starts. J-F Berube, who came into this week with two appearances on the season - the most recent of which was in early December - looked strong when called into action, logging back-to-back 30-save performances in his last two starts.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Santtu Kinnunen kept his hot streak going with a snipe from the point that helped lift the Checkers over the Penguins on Saturday!

Santtu snipe! pic.twitter.com/jl6za1gYUd

— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) January 14, 2023

RANKS

• Riley Nash is tied for third in the AHL in shorthanded goals (2)
• Riley Nash is tied for the league lead in shorthanded assists (2)
• Riley Nash is tied for the league lead in shorthanded points (4)
• Connor Bunnaman is tied for third in the AHL in shorthanded goals (2)
• Riley Bezeau ranks fourth among league rookies in major penalties (4)
• Patrick Giles is tied for fifth among league rookies in shorthanded goals (1)
• Patrick Giles is tied for fourth among league rookies in shorthanded assists (1)
• Lucas Carlsson is tied for eighth among league defensemen in goals (6)
• Anthony Bitetto is tied for second among league defensemen in shorthanded goals (1)
• Lucas Carlsson is tied for ninth among league defensemen in shots on goal (79)
• Santtu Kinnunen is tied for ninth among league defensemen in shots on goal (79)
• Mack Guzda is tied for fifth among rookie goalies in goals-against average (2.72)
• Mack Guzda is tied for fourth among rookie goalies in wins (9)
• Mack Guzda ranks eighth among rookie goalies in save percentage (.908)

Transactions

Incoming

• 1/15 - Zac Dalpe - Assigned from Florida (NHL)
• 1/11 - Matt Kiersted - Assigned from Florida (NHL)

Outgoing

• 1/16 - Grigori Denisenko - Recalled by Florida (NHL)
• 1/13 - Tag Bertuzzi - Released from PTO
• 1/10 - Alex Lyon - Recalled by Florida (NHL)

Injury Report

• Logan Hutsko: Out since 12/23
  Skating in yellow no-contact jersey, "trending in right direction" (Last update on 1/9)
  
• Justin Sourdif: Out since 1/4
  Not skating, "week to week" (Last update on 1/9)
  

By the Numbers

CATEGORY	RECORD	AHL RANK
Power play	18.1%	21st
Penalty kill	84.7%	4th
Goals per game	2.76	26th
Shots per game	31.22	8th
Goals allowed per game	3.03	t-13th
Shots allowed per game	28.97	t-6th
Penalty minutes per game	12.46	19th

LEADERS

CATEGORY	LEADER(S)
Points	Riley Nash (29), Santtu Kinnunen (19), Grigori Denisenko, Aleksi Heponiemi (18)
Goals	Riley Nash (12), Zac Dalpe (10), Grigori Denisenko (8)
Assists	Riley Nash (17), Santtu Kinnunen (14), Chris Tierney (13)
Power play goals	Zac Dalpe (4), Anton Levtchi, Riley Nash, Connor Bunnaman (3)
Shorthanded goals	Riley Nash, Connor Bunnaman (2), Anthony Bitetto, Patrick Giles (1)
Game-winning goals	Zac Dalpe, Riley Nash (3), Anton Levtchi, Grigori Denisenko (2)
Shots on goal	Riley Nash (83), Connor Bunnaman (80), Lucas Carlsson, Santtu Kinnunen (79)
Penalty minutes	Anthony Bitetto (50), Givani Smith (49), Gerry Mayhew, Connor Bunnaman (42)
Plus/minus	Riley Nash (+9), Lucas Carlsson, Aleksi Heponiemi (+5)
Wins	Alex Lyon, Mack Guzda (9)
Goals-against average	Alex Lyon (2.55)
Save percentage	Alex Lyon (.909)