Weekly Report: October 12, 2015

The Checkers kicked off their 2015-16 campaign with a pair of wins on the road over the Iowa Wild. This marks just the second time in the team's six AHL seasons that Charlotte has won each of their first two contests.

After a day off on Monday, the Checkers will return to Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail for three days of practice before heading to Milwaukee on Friday looking for their first ever 3-0 start.

Week in Review

Checkers 4, Iowa 1

The Checkers opened their season on the right foot, plowing over the Iowa Wild by a score of 4-1. Brock McGinn and rookie Sergey Tolchinsky kicked things off with quick goals to put the Checkers in front early on in the first. Mike Reilly struck in the second and pulled the Wild within one heading into the final frame, but Charlotte poured on two more in the third, including another tally by McGinn, to ice the game. It marked the third time in the team's six AHL seasons that they opened with a win.Full recap

Checkers 5, Iowa 4 (SO)

Iowa looked like they would get their revenge the next night, running out to a 4-1 lead in the third period despite being severely outshot. The Checkers had other plans, however, rallying back thanks to goals from Derek Ryan, Brett Pesce and Trevor Carrick, whose power-play blast with under two minutes left knotted things up and forced overtime. After a chaotic three-on-three extra period that didn't yield any goals, the game proceeded to a shootout where rookie Rasmus Tirronen, who relieved Drew MacIntyre in the third period, stood tall and denied the two shooters he faced. T.J. Hensick and Tolchinsky each found the back of the net on their attempts, clinching the two points and keeping the Checkers unbeaten.Full recap

Notables

Best Start...Ever?

For just the second time in the franchise's six-year AHL history, the Checkers have won each of their first two games. The only other instance was the 2013-14 campaign. The team will have a chance to make history on Friday as the Checkers have never started with three consecutive victories.

Morris Climbs The Ladder

Mark Morris earned his 340th AHL win on Sunday, moving him into a tie with current Anaheim Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau for ninth all time. Morris, who had only coached in the AHL with Manchester prior to this season, is only 22 wins from moving into sixth place, although Randy Cunneyworth (eighth with 352) is also active.

Leadership By Committee

New coach Mark Morris did not name a captain for the season’s opening weekend, citing the need to see how players react under fire. Instead, a handful of players rotated as alternate captains for the weekend. On Saturday, T.J. Hensick, Kyle Hagel and Keegan Lowe did the honors, while Sunday saw Derek Ryan, Justun Shugg and Danny Biega wear letters.

High-Flying Offense

The Checkers were only able to score four or more goals on the road five times last year. They have reached that mark in each of their first two road contests this season. Similarly, they only fired 40 or more shots five times all last season, with the first such instance coming in January. The Checkers registered 43 and 45 shots in their first two games, respectively.

Shootout Specialists

With Sunday's victory, the Checkers have now won five-consecutive shootouts dating back to last season. Their last shootout loss came against San Antonio on Dec. 19, 2014.

Boychuk On The Cusp

Already the franchise goals leader, Zach Boychuk needs just three points to tie Chris Terry for the Checkers’ all-time points lead. He is also 17 shy of becoming the team’s all-time leader in games played, is 14 shy in assists, is two shy in power-play points and is one game-winner away from becoming the franchise leader in those categories.

By playing Saturday, Boychuk became the only player to play in all six of the Checkers’ season openers. Along with Rissanen, who joined the inaugural 2010-11 team in the final weeks, he is one of just two players to play at least one game with the team in all six seasons.

Ranks

• T.J. Hensick and Justin Shugg are tied for fourth in the AHL in scoring with three points
• Brock McGinn is tied for third in the AHL in goals (2)
• Derek Ryan, T.J. Hensick and Trevor Carrick are all tied for second in the AHL in power-play points (2)
• T.J. Hensick and Sergey Tolchinsky are tied for the league lead in shootout percentage (100%) and shootout goals (1)
• Rasmus Tirronen is tied for the league lead in shootout percentage (100%)
• Brett Pesce is tied for fifth among AHL rookies in scoring (2)

Injuries

• None

Milestones

• Head coach Mark Morris earned his 340th AHL win, moving into a tie for ninth all time
• Justin Shugg scored his 150th pro point on 10/10 and his 50th AHL goal on 10/11
• Trevor Carrick logged his 100th AHL/professional penalty minute on 10/11
• Brett Pesce scored his first AHL.professional goal on 10/11
• Derek Ryan made his North Amerian pro debut on 10/10 and scored his first point in North America on 10/11
• Sergey Tolchinsky scored his first AHL/professional goal on 10/10
• Jaccob Slavin made his pro debut on 10/10 and recorded his first AHL/pro point
• Tyler Ganly made his pro debut on 10/10 and recorded his first AHL/pro point

Transactions

Incoming

• October 10 - (D) Danny Biega reassigned from Carolina (NHL)

Outgoing

• None

Coming Up

By the Numbers

Team Statistics
CATEGORY	RECORD	AHL RANK	LAST WEEK
Power play	30.0%	11th	N/A
Penalty kill	85.7%	15th	N/A
Goals per game	4.50	7th	N/A
Shots per game	44.00	1st	N/A
Goals allowed per game	2.50	t-10th	N/A
Shots allowed per game	23.00	6th	N/A
Penalty minutes per game	10.50	10th	N/A

Team Leaders
CATEGORY	LEADER(S)
Points	Justin Shugg, T.J. Hensick (3), Five tied (2)
Goals	Brock McGinn (2), Six tied (1)
Assists	T.J. Hensick, Justin Shugg, Phil Di Giuseppe (2)
Power play goals	T.J. Hensick, Trevor Carrick, Derek Ryan (1)
Shorthanded goals	N/A
Game-winning goals	Brock McGinn (1)
Shots on goal	Brock McGinn (13), Phil Di Giuseppe (10), Derek Ryan, Zach Boychuk (9)
Penalty minutes	Trevor Carrick (7), Rasmus Rissanen (4), Five tied (2)
Plus/minus	Keegan Lowe, Tyler Ganly (+2), Six tied (+1)
Wins	Drew MacIntyre, Rasmus Tirronen (1)
Goals-against average	Drew MacIntyre (2.90)
Save percentage	Drew MacIntyre (.891)