Weekly Report: Oct. 26

The Checkers wrapped up their first home stand of the season by running out their hot streak even further before seeing it snapped in Saturday's finale.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Checkers 3, Thunderbirds 2

The Checkers’ second meeting with Springfield - and first on home ice - was a tight, physical affair, with the two sides trading tallies until things were knotted up nearing the midway mark of the third period. Gracyn Sawchyn would play hero at that point though, beating a sprawling Springfield netminder to claim a lead that Charlotte wouldn’t relinquish for the remainder of regulation, earning its fourth consecutive victory.

Thunderbirds 2, Checkers 1

The rematch was similarly physical and tightly contested, but this time it would be the visitors who got the last laugh. Springfield opened the scoring early in the first, then Jack Devine evened the score with a buzzer beater in the second, setting up a deadlock heading into the third. Despite outshooting their opponent 15-4 in the final frame, the Checkers couldn’t muster anything else offensively, and a Springfield strike early on in the period proved to be the difference as the Thunderbirds snapped Charlotte’s winning streak.

QUICK HITS

LOCK IT UP

Since dropping a 6-2 contest to the Bruins on Oct. 10, the Checkers have really tightened things up defensively. Over the last five games, they have surrendered eight total goals and have not given up more than two in a single contest.

With Cooper Black earning two NHL recalls already this season, the Checkers have leaned on Kirill Gerasimyuk and he has delivered. The Russian netminder has started four of the team’s last five games and has posted a stellar 1.48 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage.

A DEVINE START

Jack Devine has hit the ground running in his sophomore season. The forward is currently on a three-game point streak and has found the scoresheet in six of the team’s eight contests thus far. Devine’s six points lead Charlotte while his four goals are tied with Nate Smith for the team lead. As a rookie last season Devine posted 18 goals and 43 points in 63 games, while his 25 helpers led the club.

CLOSE CALLS

The Checkers have been no stranger to tight contests this season, as five of their first eight games have been decided by a single goal - with Charlotte holding a 3-2-0-0 record. Beyond that, the Checkers are 2-1-0-0 in games decided by more than one goal.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Gracyn Sawchyn pulled off a slick finish to net the eventual game winner on Friday!

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Transactions

Incoming

• 10/20 - Tyler Muszelik - Recalled from Savannah (ECHL)

Outgoing

• 10/20 - Kasper Lundell - Assigned to Savannah (ECHL)
• 10/20 - Emil Pieniniemi - Assigned to Savannah (ECHL)
• 10/20 - Cooper Black - Recalled by Florida (NHL)

By the Numbers

CATEGORY	RECORD	AHL RANK
Power play	14.8%	21st
Penalty kill	90.0%	3rd
Goals per game	2.63	22nd
Shots per game	30.88	6th
Goals allowed per game	2.38	t-7th
Shots allowed per game	26.25	8th
Penalty minutes per game	14.25	20th

LEADERS

CATEGORY	LEADER(S)
Points	Jack Devine (6), Nate Bastian (5), Nate Smith, Angus Crookshank (4)
Goals	Nate Smith, Jack Devine (4), 12 tied (1)
Assists	Nate Bastian (4), Angus Crookshank (3), Seven tied (2)
Power play goals	Jack Devine (2), Angus Crookshank, Robert Mastrosimone (1)
Shorthanded goals	Hunter St. Martin (1)
Game-winning goals	Nate Smith, Jack Devine, Gracyn Sawchyn, Hunter St. Martin (1)
Shots on goal	Angus Crookshank, Jack Devine (25), Nate Bastian (23)
Penalty minutes	Casey Fitzgerald (21), Marek Alscher (17), Robert Mastrosimone (12)
Plus/minus	Tobias Bjornfot (+6), Will Bitten, Brett Chorske, Mikulas Hovorka (+2)
Wins	Kirill Gerasimyuk (3)
Goals-against average	Kirill Gerasimyuk (1.48)
Save percentage	Kirill Gerasimyuk (.930)

LOOKING AHEAD

After a road trip out West that will take them to Colorado and Iowa, the Checkers will return to Bojangles Coliseum on Nov.6 for Military Appreciation Night! Fans can get a special-edition shirt and ticket to the game for just $60 here. Additionally it is a Family Game, meaning fans can save $10 per ticket when purchasing at least four from this link.

The next night is Hockey Fights Cancer, which will honor all of those affected by cancer. Tickets for that game can be purchased here.

Following that are the first two weekday home games of the season. There's Throwback Ticket Night presented by CEENTA on Tuesday, Nov. 10, featuring tickets as low as $1.44 that can be purchased here while supplies last! Then there's the first Winning Wednesday presented by Michelob Ultra, with $2 draught beers and a free ticket to the next Wednesday game if the Checkers win! Tickets to that game can be purchased here, as well as discounted tickets for both college students and teachers and school employees.

All Checkers games are also available to stream via AHLTV on FloHockey here. The radio broadcast is also available on the Checkers App or online.