Game Preview: Checkers at San Diego (Jan. 9, 2016)

The Checkers’ so-far, so-successful first road trip through California concludes tonight with another late show against the San Diego Gulls.

Here are nine to know about the match-up as Charlotte looks to stay gold in the Golden State:

1. UP TO 11

Thanks to last night’s 3-1 win in their first-ever meeting with the Gulls, Charlotte’s franchise-record point streak now sits at 11 games (9-0-2). The streak, which began exactly one month ago on Dec. 9, is tied with three others for the second-longest point streak in the AHL this season. Grand Rapids’ 15-game run ending Dec. 26 is the longest.

2. ROAD WARRIORS

Much of the current point streak has taken place on the road, giving the Checkers another franchise record with an eight-game streak away from home (7-0-1) beginning Nov. 22 that is the third-longest in the AHL this season. Charlotte ranks second in the AHL with 13 road victories this season, which is one more than they recorded all of last season.

3. CLIMBING THE STANDINGS

The Checkers’ winning ways have allowed them to climb up to fourth place in the Central Division with a winning percentage of .636, solidifying their hold on a playoff spot over their closest competition in Lake Erie, which ranks fifth in the Central at .588 and Texas, which ranks fourth in the Pacific at .553. Under the AHL’s new playoff format, the top four teams in each division qualify with one possible exception that would allow the fifth place team in the Central to get in with a higher winning percentage than the fourth-place team in the Pacific.

At the start of their point streak on Dec. 9, the Checkers sat sixth in the Central at an even .500.

4. DEFENSE GETS OFFENSIVE

Last night’s win saw two more goals by Checkers defensemen, as Jake Chelios and Mike Cornell scored power-play markers to give the team a 2-1 lead before forward Patrick Brown iced it with an empty-netter. Nine different defensemen have combined to score 29 goals this season, which accounts for a league-leading 28.4 percent of the team’s total.

Last season, eight different defensemen combined for just 19 goals, which was 11 percent of the team’s total.

5. POWERING UP

The Checkers have gone 2-for-5 on the power play in each of their last two games, with all four of their goals scored against a goaltender during that time coming on the man advantage. Charlotte has at least one power play goal in each of its last five and is converting at a 31.8 percent rate (7-for-22) during that time.

For the season, the Checkers rank fourth in the AHL with a 21.1 percent success rate. In the team’s five previous campaigns in the league, last season marked the only time that it finished outside of the league’s top five on the man advantage (28th, 13.7 percent).

6. ALL IN ON ALTSHULLER

With another victory last night, Checkers goaltender Daniel Altshuller continued a stellar start to his AHL career. The 21-year-old, third-round draft choice in 2012 playing his second professional season is now 6-0-1 with a 1.40 goals-against average and .950 save percentage since making his first start on Dec. 17.

Prior to joining the Checkers last month, Altshuller led the ECHL in goals-against average (1.58), save percentage (.941) and shutouts (three) and was the reigning ECHL goaltender of the month for November. Since joining the team, he has started seven of a possible nine games.

7. FAMILIAR FACES

San Diego has a trio of names on its roster that Checkers fans may be familiar with – Bryan Moore, Anton Khudobin and Kyle Bonis.

Moore, a native of Indian Trail, became the first Charlotte native to sign a professional contract as he joined the Gulls on an AHL deal prior to the season. The former Jr. Checker and Checkers stick boy played against his hometown team for the first time last night.

Meanwhile, Khudobin, a former Carolina Hurricane who played two games with the Checkers on a conditioning stint two seasons ago, made 26 saves to take the loss last night. Bonis, a former Checkers signee who played three games with the club in 2013-14, was also in Saturday’s lineup.

8. TOLCHINSKY FINDING HIS GROOVE

Though his three-game goal streak came to an end last night, forward Sergey Tolchinsky picked up an assist on Cornell’s goal to extend his point streak to four games (3g, 3a). Prior to his current streak, Tolchinsky, who began the season on a four-game point streak, had managed just four points (1g, 3a) in his previous 25 outings.

9. ODDS AND ENDS

Defenseman Danny Biega missed last night’s game due to injury, joining forward Carter Sandlak and goaltender Drew MacIntyre on the team’s injured list … Forward T.J. Hensick’s six-game point streak came to an end last night. It tied an earlier streak by Derek Ryan for the team’s longest of the season … Ryan Murphy tied his career high, set twice previously, with six shots on goal last night. He also recorded an assist to give him eight points in 12 AHL games this season … Despite playing just 13 games, Cornell ranks fifth among AHL defensemen with six major penalties. He is also second among league blueliners with a 17.6 shooting percentage.