Game Preview: Checkers at San Jose (Dec. 28, 2015)

The Checkers return from an eight-day holiday hiatus to begin a six-game California road trip in San Jose this evening.

Here are nine things to know to prepare for the Checker’s first-ever trip to visit some of the AHL’s new west coast teams:

1. GOING STREAKING

The Checkers enter today’s game on a six-game point streak (5-0-1) that marks their longest since a seven-game run in January of 2013 (6-0-1) and ties the longest active streak in the AHL. Their three straight wins tie their longest streak of the season, set in their first three games on Oct. 10-16. They have not won four in a row since March of 2014.

Dating back to Nov. 22, the Checkers have won nine of their last 13 games.

2. PLAYOFF PICTURE

Charlotte’s recent surge has propelled it to fifth in the Central Division with a .589 winning percentage. Though the AHL’s new playoff format sets brackets for the top four teams in each division, the Checkers would still qualify if the season ended today on the crossover rule as they own a better winning percentage than the fourth-place team in the Pacific Division. That team is tonight’s opponent, San Jose, which sits at .540. Continuing the current playoff hypothetical, the Checkers’ first playoff opponent would be Ontario, who they play this Saturday and Sunday.

3. HOLIDAY HANGOVER?

In the last five seasons, the Checkers have entered the holiday break on a point streak three times. However, two of those instances saw the Checkers struggle coming back, including last season when the Checkers went into the break on a three-game point streak and then went 1-3-1 on the other side.

4. REST ADVANTAGE

While the Checkers have been off since last Sunday’s overtime win over Lake Erie at Bojangles’ Coliseum, the Barracuda will face a quick turnaround from Sunday’s local 8 p.m. game against Stockton. That 5-1 victory extended their point streak to four games (2-0-2) and, beginning with a 3-1 win in Charlotte on Nov. 25, gives them points in eight of their last 10 games (6-2-2).

5. SPENGLER CUP ABSENTEES

Both teams will be missing players for this week’s match-ups on account of the annual Spengler Cup tournament in Switzerland. Charlotte goalie Drew MacIntyre, who has played in 20 of the team’s 28 games, and defenseman Trevor Carrick, who is tied for third among AHL defensemen with seven goals, are currently representing Team Canada and will not return until Jan. 1. The same is true of Barracuda defenseman Mark Cundari.

Team Canada opened the cup with a 2-1 win over Yekaterinburg on Saturday. Carrick opened the scoring and MacIntyre picked up the win with 22 saves.

6. LINEUP CHANGES

The loss of Carrick and MacIntyre and Drayson Bowman’s decision to sign with a team in Germany will cause at least three lineup changes from the Checkers’ most recent game on Sunday.

At forward, Ethan Werek joins on a professional tryout contract from the ECHL’s Florida Everblades, whom he led with 12 goals as of his signing on Saturday. The second-round draft choice of the New York Rangers in 2009 has 76 points (33g, 43a) in 235 career AHL games with Portland and Providence. Carter Sandlak and Brendan Woods may also be available after missing games due to injury prior to the break.

On defense, Mike Cornell is available to re-enter the lineup for the first time since Dec. 6. In goal, Rasmus Tirronen is back from a brief ECHL stint to team up with Daniel Altshuller.

7. ALL IN ON ALTSHULLER

Goaltender Daniel Altshuller has started each of the Checkers’ last three games - the first three AHL games of his career – and has come away with a perfect 3-0-0 record to go along with 1.97 goals-against average and .933 save percentage. He is the second goalie in Checkers' history to win each of his first three AHL starts behind John Muse, who started 5-0-0 in 2011-12.

8. RYAN ON A ROLL

Checkers captain Derek Ryan is currently on a six-game point streak, the longest by a Checkers player this season, racking up 11 points (4g, 7a) along that stretch. Ryan, the reigning Swedish Hockey League MVP who is playing his first professional season in North America at age 28, has rocketed up the league rankings and is currently tied for fourth in the AHL in scoring with 28 points in 28 games.

9. ODDS AND ENDS

After going three games without a point since his return from a month-long injury, four-time AHL All Star T.J. Hensick has three points (2g, 1a) in his last two games … Defenseman Keegan Lowe, who was a healthy extra for the Checkers’ last game, has an active three-game point streak (1g, 2a) … Brock McGinn has nine points (4g, 5a) in six games since returning from Carolina and ranks second on the team with 10 goals despite having played in only 16 games … The Checkers' 9-5-0-0 record away from is the their best road start since 2012-13. Last season, Charlotte only won 12 road games all season, with their ninth not coming until March 21 … Charlotte has won six of seven overtime games this season, including four by way of shootout … The Checkers have both scored (38) and allowed (34) more goals in the third period than in any other period.