Game Preview: Checkers at Milwaukee (Jan. 10, 2017)

A tough matchup with a Central Division power is the only thing that stands between the Checkers and their return home. Here are 12 things to know about tonight's game against the Admirals:

1. WRAPPING UP THE ROAD TRIP

Charlotte’s longest road trip of the season mercifully comes to an end tonight in Milwaukee. The eight-game trek that began on Dec. 20 (split up by the league’s holiday break) has seen the team go 2-5-0 thus far and drop to last place in the Western Conference.

The good news for the Checkers, who have played the most road games in the league, is that the remainder of their season skews toward home games. They will be at Bojangles’ Coliseum for 26 of the final 41 games on the schedule and won’t see any road trips lasting longer than three games.

2. SCORING DROUGHT

The Checkers continue to struggle when it comes to putting the puck in the net.

Charlotte has seen its average dip to 2.31 goals-per-game, dropping the team to last in the AHL. They have failed to score more than two goals during regulation in each of their last 10 games and 19 times over their last 20.

It appears that lack of scoring has directly impacted the Checkers record. The Checkers have recorded two or fewer goals in 24 of their 35 games this season and are 2-20-2 in those situations, accounting for each of the team’s losses this season. On the flip side, Charlotte is perfect 11-0-0 when breaking past that barrier.

With Lucas Wallmark and Valentin Zykov leading the way at eight goals apiece, the Checkers are one of just four teams in the AHL who have no players with at least 10 goals so far.

The team has had at least one player hit 20 goals in each of their six seasons in the AHL. The lowest total by a Checkers goal-scoring leader is 21.

3. DWYER FINDS HIS GROOVE

Back in the AHL for the first time in seven years, Patrick Dwyer appears to have found his groove with the Checkers. After recording three points through the first 24 games of the season, split up by an injury that forced him out of a sizaeable chunk of games in late November, the veteran forward has exploded for four points in his last four games. That uptick includes him tallying a goal and an assist in the first period alone to help spur the Checkers to a big win over Grand Rapids on Friday.

4. POWER-PLAY PROBLEMS

Like the team’s offense in general, Charlotte’s power play has had a tough go thus far this season. The unit has produced at 10.5 percent on the man advantage, ranking it 30th out of 30 teams in the AHL, and a full 3.2 percent behind the next squad.

The Checkers have gone three games without a power-play goal, their third stretch of at least that length this season. They have notched two goals in their last 31 opportunities over the last nine games, a stretch that has seen them go 2-7-0.

The lowest power-play percentage in franchise history is 13.7, set in 2014-15. That season marks the only time in franchise history that the Checkers have finished the year with a power-play percentage outside of the top six in the AHL.

5. PLUMMETING PENALTY KILL

While the Checkers’ penalty kill has managed to land higher up in the league rankings, it has been going through similar struggles to the power play.

Charlotte has given up a power-play goal in each of the last five games, the team’s longest such streak this season, surrendering seven over their last 19 times shorthanded. Saturday in Chicago also marked the sixth time this season that the Checkers have allowed multiple power-play goals in a single game.

6. GOALIE CAROUSEL

The rotating goalie situation continues to spin for the Checkers. With Alex Nedeljkovic in Florida and Michael Leighton serving as Cam Ward’s backup in Carolina as Eddie Lack recovers from injury, Daniel Altshuller has now taken the reins as the team’s number one goalie.

The third-year pro showed flashes of the stellar play from a year ago that kickstarted the team’s record-breaking point streak Friday in Grand Rapids, turning aside 33 shots from the formidable opponent, but struggled the following day in Chicago, getting shelled for five goals in two periods. That led head coach Ulf Samuelsson to pull his starter and insert C.J. Motte in relief for the third period. Motte, who was signed to a PTO earlier last week, became the fourth goalie to appear in a game for the Checkers this season, stopping all 11 shots he faced Saturday.

7. ROBERTSON ROLLING

Dennis Robertson, who broke through with 17 points in 57 games as a rookie two seasons ago, has found some of that offensive flair over the last few games. After finding himself in and out of the lineup to start the year and recording just one point in his first 19 games, the blue liner has notched a point in three straight games and has four points in his last five games.

8. START STRONG

As the midway point of the season quickly approaches, the key to Charlotte earning victories has become fairly clear: get out in front early. The Checkers are 9-4-2 when scoring the first goal of the game and 4-16-0 when falling into a 1-0 hole. Similarly, they are 10-3-1 when leading or tied after 20 minutes of play and 3-17-1 when falling behind early. The Checkers have been equally strong at holding late leads, notching a 12-2-1 record when leading or tied heading into the third, but struggle when forced to come from behind, holding a measly 1-18-1 record when trailing after 40 minutes.

9. ADMIRALS WAVERING

Since crushing Texas 9-1 on Dec. 17, the Admirals have gone a pedestrian 3-4-1 over their last eight games. Most recently, they were blanked 4-0 at the hands of the Stockton Heat lasts Saturday, the second time they were shut out over that eight-game span.

Still, Milwaukee sits in second in the Central Division, one of only three teams in the Western Conference to reach the 20-win mark. The Admirals have been impressive on home ice, earning at least one point in 10 of the 13 games they have played in Milwaukee.

10. MISSING SAROS

A big piece of the Admirals’ success this season will be absent as they take the ice tonight, as netminder Juuse Saros remains in the NHL with Nashville. In 13 games this season, the Finnish goalie has boasted the second-best goals-against average and save percentage in the AHL.

Milwaukee is still in good hands, however, as the tandem of rookie Jonas Gunnarsson and Marek Mazanec have taken over the reins. The Checkers faced Gunnarsson in the two squads’ lone meeting so far this season, a 3-2 overtime loss for Charlotte that saw the rookie make 20 saves and earn the victory. The Checkers saw Mazanec twice last season, defeating him in both meetings while pumping a total of six goals behind him.

11. WHITE OUT

The Admirals’ offense, which ranks right in the middle of the pack when it comes to goals per game, is led by fourth-year forward Matt White.

White has notched 25 points through the first 30 games, putting him two points shy of matching his total from 54 games last season. The Checkers are well aware of White’s offensive prowess, as the 27-year-old went off for nine goals in five meetings a year ago.

12. TUNE IN!

Tune in to hear Jason Shaya's call live from Milwaukee tonight, with the pregame show kicking off at 7:45, and tweet at him to let him know you're listening!

You can also download the new Checkers App, available for both iPhones and Androids, for score updates and to play the new Top Line game!