Weekly Report: January 18, 2016

The Checkers saw their record-setting streak come to an end this week, but it was only a small hiccup as they continue to roll their way up the division standings.

The team will finally get a bit of a break, enjoying a week to rest and regroup before welcoming the Chicago Wolves to town.

Week in Review

Grand Rapids 5, Checkers 3

Returning home after a triumphant California road trip, the Checkers ran out of gas against the other hottest team in the AHL. After battling through a tight contest, the two teams entered the third period tied at two, but Grand Rapids would come up with back-to-back strikes midway through the frame to get back on top. The Checkers got a late tally to pull within one, but an empty netter from the Griffins sealed their victory and snapped the Checkers' point streak at 12.Full recap

Checkers 4, Grand Rapids 3

It looked as if the Checkers would again fall to the Griffins in the next night's rematch, but the home team pulled out another come-from-behind victory to split the series. After falling behind 3-0 midway through the second, the Checkers rattled off four consecutive goals, including a shorthanded game-winner courtesy of Brody Sutter in the third. Full recap

Checkers 3, Manitoba 2

The Checkers continued their jam-packed schedule by welcoming the struggling Moose to town, but regardless of their record, the visitors gave Charlotte all they could handle. The Checkers broke through in the second to build a 2-0 lead, but saw it evaporate as the Moose responded with a pair of their own, including the game-tying goal in the final six minutes to force overtime. The Checkers dominated possession in the extra frame and it was Ethan Werek who roofed a shot from a bad angle to clinch the two points for the good guys. Full recap

Checkers 4, Manitoba 1

The Moose continued to hold their own in the next night's rematch, but the Checkers eventually wore them down and earned a lopsided win. Charlotte jumped in front early courtesy of a David Wohlberg snipe, but the Moose found the equalizer in the final minute of the first, sending the teams to the locker rooms tied at one. But the Checkers' constant barrage of chances finally started to fall, with Phil Di Giuseppe putting them back on top late in the second, then Ethan Werek and Derek Ryan going back-to-back early in the third to extend the Checkers' lead and seal their third straight win. Full recap

Three Stars Of The Week

Notables

Climbing The Standings

The Checkers entered today second in the Central Division, trailing the Rockford IceHogs by .013 percentage points for the lead. It's the highest the Checkers have been in the division standings since their sixth game of the season on Oct. 23.

Winter Warriors

The Checkers have lit things up this winter, holding a 12-3-1-1 (.765) record so far in December and January. The best record through those two months in franchise history is 14-8-0-0 (.636), set in 2013-14. That also stands as the last time that the Checkers have finished consecutive months with records over .500.

Werek Makes An Impression

Ethan Werek joined the team via a PTO on Dec. 26 to help fill in a hole in the lineup. Since then, the forward has had the hottest hand on the team, recording seven points in his nine games with the club, and is currently on a four-game goal streak, the longest posted by a Checker this season. A veteran of 244 career AHL games, Werek has become a mainstay in the lineup, forcing the coaches to keep him in even as they received players back from the NHL.

Free Hockey

The Checkers continued their dominance of the extra session with Saturday's win, improving to 7-2 in overtime games this season. Their .778 winning percentage in the extra frame, which includes a 3-1 record in the five minute, three-on-three period and a 4-1 record in the shootout, is the third-highest in the AHL.

All In On Altshuller

Daniel Altshuller made 17 stops on Sunday to move to 9-1-1 this season with a 1.71 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage. Both of those stats would be enough to rank him first in the AHL if he had played enough minutes to qualify. He has now played 669 minutes, with the league's qualifying threshold, a target that increases throughout the season, now sitting at 720.

Upon his recall to the Checkers on Dec. 14, Altshuller, who has started 11 of the team’s last 13 games, led the ECHL with a 1.58 GAA and .941 SV%.

Chelios Surging

Don't look now, but defenseman Jake Chelios has strung together quite a stretch and has rocketed to third on the team in scoring, trailing second-place Trevor Carrick by just two points. Currently on a four-game assist streak, the second-year pro has 11 points in his last 12 games to bring his season total to 21 in 35 games. Chelios has already surpassed his rookie season totals for goals, assists and points.

Brody Breaks Out

With three in his last five games, Brody Sutter has jumped up to third on the team in goals. While in a less offense-oriented role this season, the fourth-year pro has been an integral part of the team's success, with his line (Sutter centering Brendan Woods and Patrick Brown) impressing enough for the coaches to keep them together consistently even among other shake ups. The scoring touch that is reemerging is something he showed last season when he racked up a career-high 12 goals in just 45 games.

Fourth-Line Focus

The Checkers have gotten a boost from the play of their fourth line this season. While there have been some changes throughout the year, the most consistent combination as of late has been David Wohlberg centering Kyle Hagel and Zach Boychuk. Wohlberg, who began this season as a PTO before earning an AHL contract, has been a workhorse, already setting a career high with 13 points so far this season, while Hagel continues to be a physical presence. Boychuk's high-end skill has helped him thrive in his new role as well, employing a more physical game while also kickstarting his offense a bit with four points in his last seven games.

Ranks

• Derek Ryan is tied for seventh in the AHL in scoring (33)
• Kyle Hagel is tied for fourth in the AHL in major penalties (9)
• Zach Boychuk ranks fourth in the AHL in shots on goal
• Trevor Carrick is tied for eighth among AHL defensemen in scoring (23)
• Jake Chelios is tied for 14th among AHL defensemen in scoring (21)
• Rasmus Rissanen ranks third among AHL defensemen in minor penalties (21)
• Mike Cornell ranks fifth among AHL defensemen in major penalties (7) and fifth in shooting percentage (13.6%)

Injuries

• Danny Biega missed six games starting 1/8
• Drew MacIntyre missed eight games starting 1/2

Milestones

• Zach Boychuk played his 500th pro game on 1/17
• T.J. Hensick scored his 500th pro point on 1/13

Transactions

Incoming

• January 15 - (LW) Phil Di Giuseppe assigned by Carolina (NHL)
• January 15 - (LW) Brock McGinn assigned by Carolina (NHL)

Outgoing

• None

Coming Up

By the Numbers

Team Statistics
CATEGORY	RECORD	AHL RANK	LAST WEEK
Power play	22.0%	4th	6th
Penalty kill	84.3%	12th	15th
Goals per game	3.16	5th	6th
Shots per game	30.50	11th	9th
Goals allowed per game	2.82	t-13th	16th
Shots allowed per game	28.95	11th	11th
Penalty minutes per game	15.08	19th	15th

Team Leaders
CATEGORY	LEADER(S)
Points	Derek Ryan (33), Trevor Carrick (23), Jake Chelios (21)
Goals	Derek Ryan (13), Brock McGinn (10), Brody Sutter (8)
Assists	Derek Ryan (20), Trevor Carrick, Jake Chelios (16)
Power play goals	Derek Ryan, Zach Boychuk (4)
Shorthanded goals	Patrick Brown, David Wohlberg, Brody Sutter (1)
Game-winning goals	Derek Ryan (3), Four tied (2)
Shots on goal	Zach Boychuk (111), Derek Ryan (83), Trevor Carrick (82)
Penalty minutes	Kyle Hagel (79), Mike Cornell (61), Rasmus Rissanen (42)
Plus/minus	Derek Ryan, Brock McGinn, Brendan Woods (+6)
Wins	Drew MacIntyre, Daniel Altshuller (9)
Goals-against average	Daniel Altshuller (1.71)
Save percentage	Daniel Altshuller (.941)