Game Preview: Checkers at San Antonio (Nov. 18, 2016)

The Checkers' road trip rolls on as they look to get back in the win column with their first visit to San Antonio this year.

Here are eight things to watch for in tonight's game.

1. FRESHMAN PHENOM

After a short lull, Andrew Poturalski is back to his scoring ways. The first-year pro has racked up 12 points through the first 12 games, leading the active roster and tying for third among league rookies. Poturalski also leads the team with a plus-10 rating and is centering the team’s new top line, flanked by Phil Di Giuseppe and Valentin Zykov. The trio were responsible for both goals in last Saturday’s overtime loss to Milwaukee.

2. PHIL-ING IN

After finishing last year and starting this year in the NHL, Phil Di Giuseppe is back with the Checkers and picking up right where he left off. The forward went scoreless in his season debut last Saturday but was a force in the offense, firing a team-high seven shots on goal. He rebounded in his next game, however, turning two slick plays into primary assists.

Dating back to last season, Di Giuseppe has six points in his last seven games in a Checkers sweater. He will be looked at to keep that offensive ball rolling as the team continues without its top two scorers in Derek Ryan and Brock McGinn, who are both on recall with the Hurricanes.

3. LEIGHTS OUT

Michael Leighton has proven to be quite the offseason pickup for the Checkers thus far. The veteran has backstopped the team in six of their seven wins this season and picked up a pair of shutouts along the way.

Leighton has hit a two-game winless patch currently, but his numbers remain strong, as he ranks second in the AHL in goals-against average and save percentage and first in both categories among netminders with at least five games played.

There is also a chance the rookie Alex Nedeljkovic could get at least one of the starts in San Antonio this weekend, as Leighton has appeared in each of the last three games and seven of the last eight. Though his stats have taken a bit of a hit, the 20-year-old is coming off his first AHL win, a 20-save performance against Iowa on Nov. 10.

4. SPECIAL TEAMS STRUGGLES

The Checkers spent a large chunk of the beginning of the season near the top of the league rankings for their stellar penalty killing unit, but their percentage has taken a hit during this most recent stretch.

They have allowed a power-play goal in each of their last three contests and four in their last 19 opportunities, which comes out to 79% over that stretch. In terms of league rankings, the Checkers now sit tied for 11th with an 86.3%.

On the other side, the Checkers’ power play has created chances and looked strong throughout the season, but is having trouble converting those chances. Their power-play percentage currently stands at 13%, putting them as the fifth-worst in the AHL.

After potting power-play goals in back-to-back games against the Wild last week, the Checkers have failed to put one in the net in either of their last two contests, and now have two goals on their last 21 man advantages, a 10% clip.

5. HOMESICK

While undefeated at home, the Checkers have not seen the same amount of success on the road. They currently hold a 3-4-1 record away from home, with all three wins coming against Iowa.

The offense has struggled to find a boost on the road, as the Checkers have scored just seven goals over their five road losses, never scoring more than two in a single game.

The key for Charlotte will be getting out front and carrying the lead. They have not lost a game in regulation this season in which they held a lead at either intermission. Similarly, they are 6-0-0 when scoring three or more goals in a game, showing the importance of offensive production to this team’s makeup.

6. ZYKOV SURGING

In his first full season with the Checkers, Valentin Zykov has quietly been one of the team’s most consistent forces on offense. The Russian forward ranks second on the active roster in scoring and has recorded a point in seven of the 12 games the team has played this season, including six in the last seven contests.

Zykov has also been an asset on special teams, leading the active roster in power-play points.

7. AGAINST THE RAMPAGE

AGAINST THE RAMPAGE This weekend marks the first meeting between Charlotte and San Antonio this season. Last year the two clubs were extremely evenly matched, splitting the four-games series with three of those games being decided by just one goal.

Though his status is uncertain after missing Tuesday’s contest in Milwaukee, the Checkers would benefit from having Trevor Carrick in the lineup, as he thrived last season against the Rampage, putting up four points in four games. Similarly, Phil Di Giuseppe netted a pair of goals in his lone outing against San Antonio a season ago. The new-look Rampage have been led this season by the duo of Rocco Grimaldi and rookie J.T. Compher up front and rookie netminder Spencer Martin between the pipes.

8. TUNE IN

Spend your Friday night listening to the Checkers! Tune in to hear Jason Shaya's call, with the pregame show kicking off at 8:15, and tweet at him to let him know you're listening!