Game Preview: Checkers at Lake Erie (Oct. 31, 2015)

The Checkers will look to ensure that when they make their long-awaited return home, they do it win a winning record as they wrap things up with a Halloween matchup in Lake Erie tonight.

Here are some things to know heading into the game:

1. END OF THE ROAD

Tonight’s game marks the end of the team’s grueling 10-game road swing to start the season. After dropping the previous game against Lake Erie, a 3-2 setback on Thursday, the Checkers are now 5-4-0 to start the season. They began that run with three consecutive wins but have gone just 2-4-0 since, alternating wins and losses in their last five.

The only AHL team that has yet to play a home game, the Checkers have played at least three more road games than any other team.

2. MONSTER MASH

Though the Checkers only scored twice against Lake Erie on Thursday, that’s actually more than any team to face the Monsters has done since opening night on Oct. 9. Even after Thursday, Lake Erie has allowed just four total goals in its last five games, going 3-0-1 during that time.

If the Monsters’ recent goaltender usage pattern is any indication, they may tonight use rookie Joonas Korpisalo, who has yet to allow a goal in 125 minutes of game action.

3. JUST BOYCHUK’S LUCK

Needing just one point to pass Chris Terry and become the franchise’s all-time points leader with 255, Zach Boychuk has now gone three games without finding the score sheet. He is still looking for his first goal of the season despite leading the AHL with 34 shots on goal, with this being his longest drought at the AHL level since another nine-game segment from Oct. 26-Nov. 13, 2013. Prior to this season, his longest wait for his first goal in an AHL season was in 2010 (five games).

Already the franchise’s all-time goals leader with 114, Boychuk ended last season on a seven-game goal drought, putting his last AHL goal back on March 22 at Iowa.

4. MAC IS BACK

After setting Checkers’ single-season records for games and minutes played in a single season last season, Drew MacIntyre is on pace to do so once again after playing in each of the team’s first nine games. Eight of those were starts, while the other appearance came in relief of rookie Rasmus Tirronen.

MacIntyre currently leads the AHL with nine games played, 486 minutes played and 211 saves.

5. CARRICK GETTING OFFENSIVE

Sophomore Trevor Carrick recorded his fourth goal of the season on Thursday, giving him more than any other AHL defenseman. Carrick, who set single-season offensive records by a Charlotte rookie blueliner in every category last season, now has seven points in nine games to rank tied for third among all AHL defensemen.

Including Carrick (t-2nd), Jake Chelios (fourth with six points) and Jaccob Slavin (t-5th with five points), the Checkers currently have three defensemen ranking among their top six scorers.

6. OFFENSE DRIES UP

The high-flying offensive attack the Checkers displayed to start the season has taken a downturn as of late. After totaling 21 goals in their first four games (3-1-0), the Checkers have only registered three in their last three outings. In addition to Boychuk, T.J. Hensick (four games) and Sergey Tolchinsky (five games) are players who started the season hot only to slow of late.

Since the start of the season, the Checkers have lost Brock McGinn , who scored two goals in the opener (NHL recall), and Justin Shugg, who led the Checkers in scoring last season (injury).

7. STRONG FINISHES

Of the Checkers’ 31 goals this season, 18 have come in the third period – a total that ties them for the most goals scored by any team in any period. Their plus-11 differential in the third marks their only period in which they own a positive differential.

Meanwhile, the Checkers have struggled in the second, with their three goals scored and 10 goals allowed marking their lowest and highest total of any period, respectively.

8. SLAVIN MAKES AN IMPRESSION

Jaccob Slavin appears among the AHL leaders in several categories when it comes to rookies. He is tied for second with five assists, is tied for fourth with 23 shots on goal, is tied for second (and leads the Checkers) with a plus-7 rating and is one of only three first-year players to record a shorthanded assist.

Carolina’s fourth-round pick (120th overall) in 2012, Slavin signed an entry-level contract this past summer after totaling 42 points (10g, 32a) in 66 games over two seasons with Colorado College.

9. FUN FACTS

The Checkers have yet to drop a point when leading at any intermission this season … Charlotte has scored first in six of nine games this season and is 5-1-0 in those games … T.J. Hensick leads the AHL with two shootout goals (on two attempts) … The Checkers have won seven of their last eight shootouts … Drew MacIntyre has stopped 24 of 26 shootout attempts as a Checker … The Checkers have yet to play a game outside of their own Central Division.