Game Preview: Checkers at Lehigh Valley (Feb. 2, 2018)

After a quick rest for the AHL All-Star break, the Checkers are back in action on the road in Lehigh Valley.

1. PREVIOUSLY ON

The Checkers and Phantoms have met four times thus far and neither side has been able to take ahold of the season series. The first two-game set in Charlotte saw the Phantoms storm back for a decisive 6-3 win in the first leg before the Checkers got revenge with a 5-2 victory in the next day’s rematch. The two clubs then met a few weeks later in Lehigh Valley for the final games of 2017. A strong performance from Alex Lyon clinched a 3-1 win for the Phantoms in the first contest, but the Checkers got revenge with a 5-2 victory the next night to keep the alternating wins going.

Lehigh Valley’s high-end scorers have come through for their squad against the Checkers so far. Veteran forward Phil Varone leads the team in scoring and has racked up five points (1g, 4a) in the four games, while the impressive rookie Oskar Lindblom have three goals and four points in those contests. Not to be outdone, Greg Carey and T.J. Brennan each notched four points in as many games as well. Lyon and John Muse were the two netminders to face the Checkers, each logging a 1-1-0 record with solid numbers, but neither goalie is currently on the AHL roster heading into the weekend.

On the Charlotte side, the duo of Warren Foegele and Andrew Miller continued their strong offensive seasons against the Phantoms, recording five points each in the four tilts, while Patrick Brown and Andrew Poturalski led the way by lighting the lamp three times each. Each of the Checkers’ netminders have logged two games against Lehigh Valley this season and have each gone 1-1-0. Jeremy Smith has produced the better numbers, however, putting up a 2.53 goals-against average and a save percentage of .923.

2. SCOUTING THE PHANTOMS

The perennially powerful Phantoms are battling atop the gridlocked Atlantic Division, ranking second in terms of point percentage but possessing the most points. Despite starting 2018 with a three-game winless streak, the Phantoms enter Friday’s contest having earned a point in four consecutive contests.

Despite going through a similar downturn in production at one point, the Phantoms have gone toe-to-toe with the Checkers’ offensive output this season. They are currently averaging 3.38 goals per game, slotting just above Charlotte for the third-highest mark in the AHL. Leading the way has been Varone, whose 43 points are tied for the most in the AHL. That combined with one of the league’s most prolific blue liners in T.J. Brennan, who has 11 points in his last 12 games, and Oskar Lindblom, one of the league’s top rookies, gives the Phantoms plenty of firepower.

3. NED HEATS UP

After a bit of a tough stretch, Alex Nedeljkovic has returned to his winning ways. The netminder is 3-0-1 in his last five appearances and has been stellar in those contests, logging a goals-against average of 1.94 and a save percentage of .920 during that stretch.

Nedeljkovic now has 17 wins on the season tying him for second among all AHL goaltenders and putting him just one shy of Anders Lindback’s lead. The second-year netminder is the seventh goalie in franchise history to record 17 wins in a single season, while John Muse’s 27 victories in 2013-14 stand as the team record.

4. POTTING POINTS

Prior to the team getting shut out Saturday in Hartford, Andrew Poturalski had been on an offensive tear as of late. The forward had found the score sheet in seven consecutive contests, landing him just one shy of the longest by a Checker this season, and racked up nine points along the way.

Since Dec. 4 Poturalski, who now ranks fourth on the team in scoring, has put up 17 points in 21 games, the second-highest total of any Checkers during that stretch behind only Andrew Miller.

5. PK PROBLEMS

The Checkers’ penalty kill has run into its share of issues this season. The team has slid to 23rd in the AHL in terms of their PK percentage, with only four teams – all of which make up the bottom four units in the league – surrendering more than Charlotte’s 37 power-play goals against.

The Checkers, who have gone perfect on the penalty kill in consecutive games just once since Nov. 22, have allowed a power-play goal in three straight games, including a three-goal outburst by Hartford in their last contest.

6. STARTING SLOW

While the Checkers have been prolific scoring in the second and third periods – notching 54 and 55 goals this season, respectively, they have struggled in opening frames. While it lands them near the middle of the pack league-wise, the 37 goals the team has scored in first periods this season is a significant step down from the rest of the game.

That has been especially true of late, as the Checkers have failed to light the lamp in the first period in 10 of their last 13 contests.

7. BLOWOUTS

Despite three of their last five contests being one-goal nail-biters, the Checkers have spent the majority of this season locked in more lopsided affairs. 25 of the team’s 44 games have been decided by three or more goals, the most in the AHL.

8. GET THE APP

The Checkers app got a fresh new set of paint during the offseason but functions just the same. Follow along with scoring updates as well as play the Top Line interactive game.

You will also be able to listen to the radio broadcast via the app or this link. Jason Shaya’s pregame show starts 15 minutes prior to puck drop, tune in and tweet Jason to let him know you’re listening.