Weekly Report: Nov. 17, 2014

In their first trip of the season to San Antonio, the Checkers didn't come away empty-handed, earning one point, but it wasn't the result they were looking for.

The Checkers were coming off a big bounceback victory over the defending champion Texas Stars last Monday, but ran into a hot Rampage team that had not lost in division play heading into the weekend. With an overtime loss in the first matchup, Charlotte earned a point in the standings, marking the first time this season that the team has recorded points in consecutive games. The second half of the back-to-back wasn't as kind, as a Checkers comeback was snuffed out, and the team continued their season-long struggles with two-game series.

The team will now return home for a Tuesday night game against Norfolk Admirals before traveling to Oklahoma City for a two-game series this weekend.

Week in Review

San Antonio 2, Checkers 1 (OT)

In their first meeting of the season, Charlotte held the Rampage in check, but couldn't mount enough offense to nab the victory, falling 2-1 in overtime. San Antonio jumped out to an early lead thanks to a strange wrap-around goal by Andrew Yogan, a lead that they held until the third period. Justin Shugg, returning to the lineup for the first time since getting injured on Oct. 12, redirected a cross-ice pass from Michal Jordan into the net to tie the game and force overtime. Two minutes into the extra frame, Danny Biega took a penalty, giving the Rampage a key overtime powerplay. Chad LaRose had a chance to win it with a shorthanded two-on-one, but Dan Ellis came up with a huge save, and San Antonio turned back up the ice and tallied the game-winner. Despite the loss, the Checkers matched a franchise record by allowing just 17 shots on goal. Drew MacIntyre was between the pipes, making him the fastest goalie in Checkers history to make 10 starts in a season.Full recap

San Antonio 4, Checkers 3

In the second game of the back-to-back weekend series, the Rampage notched three unanswered goals to run out to a 4-1 lead five minutes into the third period. But the Checkers didn't go away, as Justin Shugg sparked a rally with his second goal in as many games, and Michal Jordan blasted a powerplay strike to pull Charlotte within one with under five minutes to go. But they couldn't muster up the tying goal, and the Rampage improved to 7-0-0 in West Division play. Drew MacIntyre got his sixth straight start of the season, stopping 36 of the 40 shots San Antonio peppered him with.Full recap

Notables

Series Splits

This past weekend's series against San Antonio marked the sixth time the Checkers have played consecutive games against the same opponent this season. Apart from being swept by Grand Rapids, the Checkers split the previous four series prior to this weekend, winning one game and losing the other. With Friday's overtime loss, the Checkers earned a point in the standings in back-to-back games for the first time this season.

All four of the Checkers' wins have come after a loss, and the team has yet to win consecutive games. The latest in a season that a Checkers team has taken to register consecutive wins is 15 games, a record set during the inaugural 2010-11 campaign. This team has currently played 13 games.

Nemisz Heating Up

After recording one point, an assist, in his first five games, Checkers forward Greg Nemisz has posted nine (6g, 3a) in his last eight games, including two game-winners. Since the Hurricanes acquired Nemisz from the Calgary Flames organization last season, the 24-year-old, first-round draft choice in 2008 now has 21 points (9g, 12a) in 27 games with Charlotte.

The Return Of Shugg

After missing eight games following sustaining an injury at Chicago on Oct. 12, forward Justin Shugg returned to the lineup this weekend and showed no rust, lighting the lamp in each of the two games. One of the longest tenured Checkers players, Shugg came through in clutch situations in both contests, with a third period tally to force overtime on Friday and another third period strike to spark a Checkers rally (that was ultimately unsuccessful) on Saturday.

Offensive Struggles

The Checkers, who average 2.00 goals per game thus far (29th AHL), have been held to a single goal in six of their 13 games this season, all resulting in a loss, and have scored more than two goals just four times.

Two of the four lowest shot totals seen in the AHL this season belong to the Checkers, who took a franchise-record 15 against Chicago on Oct. 11. Their single shot in the first period of that game also set a franchise record and is tied for the lowest single-period total seen in the league this season. The Checkers also rank 27th in the AHL with an average of 26.46 shots per contest.

Depth Contributions

With his four assists thus far, Brendan Woods has already surpassed his total from 42 games last season and is now halfway to his previous point total. He is tied for second on the team in assists, is tied for third in points (5) and ranks second in penalty minutes (35).

By scoring his third goal of the season on Nov. 8, Jared Staal is only one away from matching his career high set in the 2012-13 campaign. He is currently tied for second on the team in goal scoring, and has as many goals as all of his brothers (NHLers Eric, Jordan and Marc) combined.

Ranks

• Forward Chad LaRose is tied for the league-lead in shorthanded assists (2)
• Forward Kyle Hagel is tied for third in the AHL in major penalties (5)
• Defenseman Trevor Carrick is tied for the lead in major penalties among rookies (3)
• Forward Carter Sandlak is ranked fourth in penalty minutes among AHL rookies (33)

Injuries

• Ben Holmstrom - missed five games starting 11/2
• Patrick Brown - missed three game starting 11/10
• Brody Sutter - missed one game starting 11/15

Suspensions

• Carter Sandlak - missed three games due to suspension starting 11/10

Milestones

• Rasmus Rissanen played in his 200th AHL/professional game on 11/14
• Kyle Jean played in his 150th pro game on 11/15

Transactions

Incoming

• None

Outgoing

• None

Coming Up

By the Numbers

Team Statistics
CATEGORY	RECORD	AHL RANK	LAST WEEK
Power play	10.2%	28th	28th
Penalty kill	83.3%	15th	13th
Goals per game	2.00	29th	29th
Shots per game	26.46	27th	29th
Goals allowed per game	3.00	t-19th	16th
Shots allowed per game	31.00	19th	20nd
Penalty minutes per game	22.08	7th	4th

Team Leaders
CATEGORY	LEADER(S)
Points	Greg Nemisz (10), Chad LaRose (7), Three tied (5)
Goals	Greg Nemisz (6), Jared Staal, Justin Shugg (3)
Assists	Chad LaRose (5), Michal Jordan, Greg Nemisz, Brendan Woods (3)
Power play goals	Six tied (1)
Shorthanded goals	Brendan Woods, Greg Nemisz (1)
Game-winning goals	Greg Nemisz (2)
Shots on goal	Phil Di Diuseppe (32), Brock McGinn (29), Trevor Carrick (26)
Penalty minutes	Kyle Hagel (41), Brendan Woods (35), Carter Sandlak (33)
Plus/minus	Phil Di Giuseppe, Greg Nemisz (+4), Rasmus Rissanen (+3)
Wins	Drew MacIntyre (4)
Goals-against average	Drew MacIntyre (2.64)
Save percentage	Drew MacIntyre (.915)