Weekly Report: Nov. 24, 2014

The Checkers enjoyed one of their strongest three-game performances of the season this past week, but were only able to come away with two points.

Coming off a hard-fought series in San Antonio last weekend, the Checkers rebounded in brilliant fashion, wiping the floor with Norfolk thanks to their best offensive game thus far. The team then headed to Oklahoma City looking to build upon that momentum, but came out empty handed. A back and forth struggle on Friday was won by a gut-wrenching powerplay goal late in the game brought on by what head coach Jeff Daniels called a "very questionable call". Then came Saturday, which Daniels called "one of our better games all year", one that saw the Checkers seemingly dominate much of the play, but they could not break through, giving them five consecutive winless games on the road.

After a quick stint back home to practice, the Checkers will head to Norfolk on Wednesday for a rematch with the Admirals, before returning to their barn for a two-game weekend series with the Milwaukee Admirals.

Week in Review

Checkers 6, Norfolk 2

In their first meeting of the season with Norfolk, the Checkers broke out, running over the Admirals 6-2. The offense, which had been the weakest link all season, came to life on Tuesday, with four different players recording multi-point games. Greg Nemisz continued his red-hot streak, racking up a season-high three points (2g, 1a) in the blowout. John Muse made his first start in net in nearly a month, and stood tall, turning aside 26 of the 28 shots he faced and earning his first win of the season.Full recap

Oklahoma City 6, Checkers 4

Following their most dominating performance of the season, the Checkers headed to Oklahoma City for the first time for what turned out to be a high-octane contest. After jumping out to a quick two-goal lead in the first, Charlotte surrendered four unanswered goals that left them trailing by two early in the third. But strikes from Justin Shugg, his fourth in as many games since returning to the lineup from injury, and Brock McGinn knotting things up with under eight minutes to play. It was Tyler Pitlick, however, who came through with a dagger, netting the game-winner with less than two minutes left in regulation. The Barons would add an empty netter to seal the heartbreaking loss. Drew MacIntyre returned to the Checkersd net, stopping 23 of 28 and taking his seventh loss of the season.Full recap

Oklahoma City 3, Checkers 0

The second half of the back-to-back in Oklahoma City was a much different game, with the Checkers failing to produce any kind of spark offensively, getting shut out for the first time this season. Charlotte was buzzing aroudn the net all night, leading the shot total 36-25, but could not break seem to solve Barons' goalie Laurent Brossoit, who earned his first AHL shutout. The Checkers entered the final frame only down one goal, but a quick tally from Jason Williams extended the Oklahoma City lead, and an empty net goal cemented the Barons' victory, improving their home record to 6-2-1.

Notables

Road Weary

Saturday's loss at Oklahoma City runs the Checkers' current road-winless streak to five games. Their last win away from Time Warner Cable Arena occured at Iowa on Oct. 24. During this drought, Charlotte has been outscored 19-9.

The five-game skid is tied for the second longest current road-winless streak in the AHL. It is also the team's longest since finishing last season with five consecutive regulation losses away from home. The Checkers will look to snap it on Wednesday in Norfolk, facing an Admirals team that they dismantled just one week ago at home.

The Return Of Shugg

After missing eight games following an injury at Chicago on Oct. 12, forward Justin Shugg recorded goals and points in each of his first four games back in the lineup (4g, 1a). He now ranks second on the team with five goals despite playing just eight games.

Shugg's four-game goal streak was the longest by a Checkers skater since Chris Terry scored in five straight from March 12-21 of last season (6g, 1a). It is tied for the longest streak posted by an AHL player at any point this season. It was the longest streak of Shugg's career, while his point streak was one shy of his career long set from Jan. 12-20, 2013 (1g, 4a).

Nemisz On Fire

After recording one point, an assist, in his first five games, Checkers forward Greg Nemisz has posted 12 (8g, 4a) in his last 11 games, including two game-winning goals. He now leads the Checkers in points (13) and goals (eight).

Since the Hurricanes acquired Nemisz from the Calgary Flames organization last season, the 24-year-old, first-round draft choice in 2008 now has 24 points (11g, 13a) in 30 games with Charlotte, giving him more points than he scored in his previous 87 games with the Abbotsford Heat (19).

Offensive Struggles

The Checkers, who average 2.37 goals per game thus far (28th AHL), have been held to a single goal or less in seven of their 16 games this season, all resulting in a loss, and have scored more than two goals six 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 25th in the AHL with an average of 27.50 shots per contest.

Emptyhanded Improvements

Despite their early season struggles, the Checkers offense has found its way a bit as of late. They racked up 13 goals in their last four games, but only came away with one victory. The shots have started to come for the team as well, as they have outshot their opponents in seven of their last 10 contests. But that increase in offense hasn't figured much into the standings, as the Checkers are just 3-6-1 over the last 10 games.

McGinn Breaks Through

After posting just one assist in seven games from Oct. 25-Nov. 18 despite numerous scoring chances, rookie forward Brock McGinn posted career highs with two goals and three points against Oklahoma City on Saturday. Those totals tied Greg Nemisz for the highest posted by a Checkers skater this season.

McGinn, a 43-goal scorer for the OHL's Guelph Storm last season, now leads the Checkers with 40 shots on goal. He has taken four or more shots in four of his last five games.

Ranks

• Forward Chad LaRose leads the league in shorthanded assists (3) and is tied for the lead in shorthanded points (3)
• Forward Greg Nemisz ranks fifth in the AHL in shooting percentage (32.0%)
• Forward Kyle Hagel is tied for the AHL lead in major penalties (6)
• Defenseman Rasmus Rissanen is tied for second among AHL defensemen in minor penalties (12)
• Defenseman Trevor Carrick is tied for third in major penalties among rookies (3)
• Forward Carter Sandlak is ranked fifth in penalty minutes among AHL rookies (35)

Injuries

• Ben Holmstrom - missed eight games starting 11/2
• Patrick Brown - missed six game starting 11/10
• Brody Sutter - missed four game starting 11/15
• Jared Staal - missed three games starting 11/18

Milestones

• Greg Nemisz played his 250th professional game on 11/21
• Keegan Lowe recorded his 100th AHL/professional penalty minute on 11/21
• Kyle Hagel recorded his 900th professional penalty minute against Norfolk on 11/18

Transactions

Incoming

• Nov. 18 - (LW) Gabriel Desjardins signed to professional tryout contract from Florida (ECHL)

Outgoing

• None

Coming Up

By the Numbers

Team Statistics
CATEGORY	RECORD	AHL RANK	LAST WEEK
Power play	11.3%	28th	28th
Penalty kill	84.8%	9th	15th
Goals per game	2.25	28th	29th
Shots per game	27.50	25th	27th
Goals allowed per game	3.13	22nd	t-19th
Shots allowed per game	30.31	17th	19th
Penalty minutes per game	21.56	24th	24th

Team Leaders
CATEGORY	LEADER(S)
Points	Greg Nemisz (13), Chad LaRose (9), Michal Jordan (7)
Goals	Greg Nemisz (8), Justin Shugg (5), Brock McGinn. Jared Staal (3)
Assists	Chad LaRose (7), Michal Jordan, Greg Nemisz, Brendan Woods, Ryan Murphy (5)
Power play goals	Justin Shugg (2)
Shorthanded goals	Greg Nemisz (2)
Game-winning goals	Greg Nemisz (2)
Shots on goal	Brock McGinn (40), Phil Di Giuseppe (39), Chad LaRose (35)
Penalty minutes	Kyle Hagel (46), Brendan Woods (44), Carter Sandlak (35)
Plus/minus	Phil Di Giuseppe, Rasmus Rissanen (+5), Greg Nemisz (+2)
Wins	Drew MacIntyre (4)
Goals-against average	John Muse (2.72)
Save percentage	Drew MacIntyre (.907)