QUICK HITS
HIGH STAKES
The Checkers punched their ticket to the postseason a few weeks ago, but they have plenty to play for in these final two games. Charlotte is in a neck-and-neck battle with Providence and Springfield at the top of the Atlantic Division - with winning the division title, finishing second but still earning a first-round bye and finishing third and having to play in the opening best-of-three round all still on the table.The Bruins and Thunderbirds have six and five games remaining, respectively, compared to Charlotte’s two, but a path to a division title is there as early as Saturday - if the Checkers beat the Wolf Pack on Friday and both Providence and Springfield lose their respective Friday night matchups, a win over the Bruins on Saturday would clinch the Atlantic for Charlotte (please note, I am not a mathematician and therefore can not guarantee that this is 100% correct. But I’m pretty sure).
BOUNCE BACK
After going on a seven-game point streak, the Checkers are winless in their last two contests - the first time they’ve dropped consecutive games in any fashion since Feb. 26 and 27. Both losses came on the road against a Springfield team that is currently tied with Charlotte in the Atlantic Division standings.KICKSTART THE OFFENSE
The Checkers have notched just two goals over their last two contests, a drought that follows a run of seven consecutive games of at least three goals scored. Charlotte - which is 36-7-3-0 this season when scoring three or more goals in a game and 4-17-2-1 when falling below that - will look to get back on track Friday against a Hartford team that ranks in the bottom third of the league in terms of goals allowed per game and has allowed an average of 3.67 goals per game throughout the month of April.LOCKING IT DOWN
On the flip side, the Checkers have been especially strong defensively as of late. They have given up five regulation goals across the last three games and have held their opponent to a single goal in regulation four times over the last seven games.COMING IN
CLT: 2-1-1-1 in last five games this seasonHFD: 1-4-0-0 in last five games this season
WHO TO WATCH
CLT
Aleksi Heponiemi - 6 points in last 7 gamesDennis Cholowski - 4 points in last 5 games
Cole Schwindt – 5 points in last 9 games
HFD
Anthony Greco – 7 points in last 7 gamesNick Merkley – 7 points in last 9 games
Patrick Khodorenko – 6 points in last 8 games
TUNE IN
Tonight's contest starts at 7 p.m. in Hartford, and as always you can listen to the game for free via the Checkers app on iPhone or Android. You can also watch via the league’s AHLTV service.And new for this season, our friends over at Ed's Tavern on 2200 Park Road are going to be showing the game on their TVs!
