Weekly Report: Oct. 20, 2014

The Checkers offensive struggles continue to plague them, as they were swept by the Grand Rapids Griffins over the weekend.

Through the first five games of the season, the Checkers sit at 1-4-0, tying the slowest start in team history set in the inaugural 2010-11 campaign. Charlotte gained its first lead of the season on Saturday with Jared Staal's tally, leading at the end of one period before allowing four straight goals. The Checkers have also been outshot in the last four games, including 79-49 in this weekend's two-game series.

The team will now look to regroup in practice this week as they prepare for a weekend road trip. They will face the Iowa Wild on Friday and Saturday, their first games against a divisional opponent. The Wild are the last remaining team in the AHL without a point.

Week in Review

Grand Rapids 2, Checkers 1

The Checkers returned to Time Warner Cable Arena for the first time this season for their home opener against the Griffins on Friday. For the third time in four contests, Charlotte went into the third period tied, but was unable to answer a quick strike from Teemu Pulkkinen, resulting in a tough 2-1 loss. Brody Sutter, rejoining the Checkers after making his NHL debut the night before, notched the sole goal for the home team, cleaning up the rebound off a Beau Schmitz shot. Drew MacIntyre was in the crease for the Checkers and turned aside 41 of the 43 shots he faced, his second consecutive 40-plus save performance. Full recap

Grand Rapids 4, Checkers 1

Despite earning their first lead of the season, the Checkers surrendered four unanswered goals on the way to a 4-1 rout at the hands of the Griffins on Saturday. Jared Staal tallied his team-leading second goal of the season, deflecting a Phil Di Giuseppe slap shot past Grand Rapids goalie Tom McCollum. Drew MacIntyre made his third straight appearance in goal for Charlotte and stopped 32 of 36 shots. Full recap

Notables

Starting On The Wrong Foot

Following the two-game sweep by the Griffins, the Checkers now find themselves at 1-4-0, the slowest mark through the first five games since the team's inaugural campaign in 2010-11. The 2010-11 team, which went on to set franchise records for highest point total (97)and deepest run into the playoffs (Eastern Conference Final), didn't find its second win until the seventh game of that season.

The Checkers did not hold their first lead of the season until the first period of Saturday's tilt and held that lead for 18:01 before Teemu Pulkkinen tied the game in the second. Saturday's loss also marked the fourth consecutive game in which the Checkers were outshot by 10 or more.

Lack Of Offense

The Checkers have recorded eight goals thus far this season, the lowest mark through five games in the team's history. The team has failed to register 20 shots in three of five games this season, and the 99 shots on goal and -79 shot differential are franchise-lows for the first five games of a season. Jared Staal is the only player with more than one goal, tying his total from last year with two so far.

Charlotte currently ranks 30th in the AHL in terms of goals per game (1.60) and shots per game (19.8).

Back Home

With the defeat on Friday, the Checkers are now 2-3-0 in home openers, including losses in the last two. Dating back to last season, the team has lost four straight at Time Warner Cable Arena.

In The Crease

Drew MacIntyre became the first Checkers goalie to start four times in the first five games, going 1-3-0. MacIntyre leads the AHL in saves with 136 and ranks second in minutes with 240:07. John Muse has appeared in one game this season, and holds the better goals-against average (2:04) and save percentage (.931).

Ranks

• Goalie Drew MacIntyre leads the AHL in saves with 136.
• Rookie Dennis Robertson is tied for third among AHL rookie defensemen in scoring (0g, 2a).
• Forward Kyle Hagel ranks fourth in the league in penalty minutes (29).
• The Checkers lead the AHL with 32 minor penalites.

Injuries

• Justin Shugg - missed two games starting 10/17

Milestones

• Ben Holmstrom registered his 500th AHL penalty minute vs. GR (10/18)
• Brody Sutter played in his 100th AHL game vs. GR (10/17)
• Patrick Brown made his AHL debut vs. GR (10/17)

Transactions

Incoming

• Oct. 17 - (C) Brody Sutter assigned to Charlotte (AHL) from Carolina (NHL)
• Oct. 16 - (C) Mike Aviani signed to a professional tryout contract from Florida (ECHL)

Outgoing

• Oct. 19 - (C) Patrick Brown recalled to Carolina (NHL) from Charlotte (AHL)
• Oct. 14 - (D) Austin Levi assigned to Florida (ECHL) from Charlotte (AHL)

Coming Up

By the Numbers

Team Statistics
CATEGORY	RECORD	AHL RANK	LAST WEEK
Power play	9.5%	23rd	14th
Penalty kill	82.8%	20th	12th
Goals per game	1.60	30th	20th
Shots per game	19.80	30th	29th
Goals allowed per game	3.00	t-19th	17th
Shots allowed per game	35.60	28th	24th
Penalty minutes per game	23.8	10th	11th

Team Leaders
CATEGORY	LEADER(S)
Points	Brendan Woods (3), five tied (2)
Goals	Jared Staal (2), six tied (1)
Assists	Brendan Woods (3), Dennis Robertson (2), nine tied (1)
Power play goals	Alex Aleardi, Phil Di Giuseppe (1)
Shorthanded goals	none
Game-winning goals	Ben Holmstrom (1)
Shots on goal	Phil Di Diuseppe (12), Trevor Carrick, Michal Jordan (8)
Penalty minutes	Kyle Hagel (29), Brendan Woods (23), Ben Holmstrom (11)
Plus/minus	Phil Di Giuseppe (+2), five tied (+1)
Wins	Drew MacIntyre (1)
Goals-against average	John Muse (2.04)
Save percentage	John Muse (.931)