The Checkers split their weekend trip to the Lone Star state, stumbling against the Stars to run their losing streak to three before getting things back on track with a thrilling, come from behind victory over the Rampage.
Anyone watching the Checkers practice this week would have noticed an extra coach on the ice working with the goalies, and specifically spending lots of time talking to rookie netminder Rasmus Tirronen. That would be David Marcoux, the Hurricanes’ goaltending coach, who periodically travels to Charlotte to give the goalies one-on-one attention.
The last two weeks have not been kind to the Checkers’ blue line. Four different defensemen have missed games due to injury and the shorthanded squad has been forced to roll with five defensemen for large chunks of each of their last four games.