Game Preview: Checkers at Rockford (March 15, 2016)

After earning a two-game sweep against them last weekend, the Checkers will again square off with the Rockford IceHogs, this time as the visitor.

Here are 10 things to know about the matchup:

1. ON A ROLL

Sunday's 4-1 romp over Rockford marked the fourth consecutive win for the Checkers, the first time the team has won more than two consecutive games since Jan. 13-17. That matches their longest win streak of the season, set twice previously on Dec. 17-28 and Jan. 2-9. Immediately prior to this streak, the Checkers had just two wins in their last 17 outings.

2. AGAINST THE ICEHOGS

With their weekend sweep the Checkers are now 3-1-0 against the IceHogs this season and 16-10-2 all time. Patrick Brown and Justin Shugg have fared the best against Rockford, tallying four points each in four and two games, respectively, while Tanner Kero and Vinnie Hinostroza lead all IceHogs with four points in three and four games played.

Thanks to some quirks in the schedule, the Checkers will get very familiar with the Chicago Blackhawks affiliate, as they will face them four more times this season, including this current stretch where the two clubs play four times in six nights.

3. NEW BLOOD

The Checkers' lineup looked vastly different before and after the NHL and AHL trade deadlines. Drew MacIntyre, Zach Boychuk and T.J. Hensick were all sent to other teams, while the Checkers brought on John Muse, Dennis Robertson, Dane Fox, Andrew Poturalski, Andrew Miller and Blair Jones.

All of those new faces were integral parts of the Checkers’ perfect week. Muse, who has started each of the team’s last five games, went 4-0-0 last week while logging a goals-against average of 1.72 and a save percentage of .920. Jones put up four points (3g, 1a) in the four games, including a two-goal performance against the Wolves on Thursday, while Miller has notched two goals, including last night’s game winner.

Poturalski, a highly-touted college prospect who decided to sign with Carolina earlier last week, made his pro debut Saturday against Rockford and scored his first pro goal and Robertson, in his return to Charlotte after being traded to the Chicago organization over the offseason, came up with three helpers last week. Fox appeared in his second AHL game, and first with Charlotte, and recorded his first AHL point with an assist, but suffered an injury that has sidelined him for the last two contests.

4. OLD FRIENDS

Heading to Rockford means the Checkers could face Drew MacIntyre, who was traded to the Chicago organization at the NHL Trade Deadline after spending nearly two seasons with Charlotte. Though he didn't get either of the starts last week, MacIntyre entered Saturday's contest in relief of starter Michael Leighton and allowed one goal on 19 shots.

On the other side Dennis Robertson returns to Rockford for the first time since being swapped for MacIntyre a few weeks ago. The second-year pro, who spent his rookie season in Charlotte before being traded to Chicago during the offseason, appeared in 37 games for the IceHogs and recorded six points (2g, 4a). In six games with Charlotte, Robertson has come up with three assists.

5. PLAYOFF PICTURE

Sunday's win, coupled with a San Jose's 4-1 last to Ontario, put the Checkers back into a playoff spot. With this season's new postseason format, which allows for crossover between the divisions, the Checkers are currently in the fourth spot in the Pacific.

The Barracuda's next game is tomorrow against the Ontario Reign.

6. OFFENSIVE OUTBURST

The Checkers’ six goals scored against Rockford on Saturday was their most in a game since Jan. 23 and fifth time scoring six or more goals this season (they twice scored seven). It was also the fourth time they have scored four or more goals in a period this season and first since Dec. 28. All of the team’s other four-goal periods, including a season-high, six-goal outburst on Nov. 28, took place in the third.

Last week’s wins saw the Checkers’ offense come to life as a whole. They have scored three or more goals in each of their last four games, something that they only did twice in the 15 games immediately prior to that.

7. SUFFOCATING DEFENSE

The Checkers have been just as strong on the other side of the ice during this hot stretch, stifling both the Wolves and the IceHogs en route to wins. Charlotte has held their opponent to two or fewer goals in regulation in five of their last seven contests, including two of their last three.

8. 5-ON-5 PRODUCTION

One of the Checkers’ biggest issues during their recent slump was an inability to score at 5-on-5. While it is a small sample size, this past week saw the team shake that problem, recording 10 5-on-5 non-empty net goals in their last four games. By comparison, the Checkers had 10 in their previous 12 games prior to that stretch.

9. FOURTH LINE ON FIRE

With the influx of new players on the roster, head coach Mark Morris has had to shuffle the lines a bit. One of the moves he made was putting Patrick Brown on the fourth line alongside Kyle Hagel and David Wohlberg prior to the Chicago game on Tuesday. In the four games since, the trio has caught fire. Brown has five points in those four games, putting him on a career-best point streak, while Wohlberg has recorded a goal and an assist over that stretch, extending his career-highs in goals, assists and points. Hagel continues to have his best offensive season since his rookie campaign, and has excelled with the addition of Brown to his line, currently in the midst of a career-best three game point streak.

10. QUICK HITS

Patrick Brown is currently on a four-game point streak and Kyle Hagel is on a three-game point streak, which both stand as career bests ... The Checkers' current four-game winning streak is tied for the longest this season ... Charlotte is 14-1-3 when leading after one period and 19-0-2 when leading after two ... The Checkers are 22-2-0 when allowing two or fewer goals and 27-5-3 when scoring three or more of their own ... Rasmus Rissanen is one shy of 50 AHL/pro points ... Jake Chelios is two shy of 50 pro points ... Sergey Tolchinsky is two shy of cracking the top five single-season rookie point totals