Game Preview: Checkers at San Jose (Dec. 30, 2015)

The Charlotte Checkers look to stay hot as they continue their California road trip with today’s rematch against the San Jose Barracuda.

Here are 10 things to know about the game:

1. GOING STREAKING

Monday’s 4-1 win over the Barracuda extended Charlotte’s point streak to seven games, which ties a franchise record set three times previously and most recently in January of 2013. The team’s 6-0-1 record in the two most recent streaks mark the most productive seven-game stretches in team history. It is the longest active point streak in the AHL.

Meanwhile, the Checkers’ active four-game win streak is their longest since March of 2014 and is tied for the second-longest active streak in the league. Charlotte has not won five in a row since January of 2013.

2. OFFENSE BREAKS THROUGH

Over the course of the current point streak, the Checkers have scored three or more goals in all seven games, which marks the longest such streak in team history. During that time, they have gone from a tie for 14th in the AHL with an average of 2.95 goals per game into a tie for fourth with an average of 3.14 per outing.

3. PLAYOFF PICTURE

The Checkers’ recent run, which dates back to their last regulation loss against Ontario on Dec. 6, has pulled them into fifth in the Central Division with a winning percentage of .603. 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 (Texas). Continuing the current playoff hypothetical, the Checkers’ first playoff opponent would be Ontario, who they play this Saturday and Sunday.

With the exception of first-place Ontario, Central Division teams currently occupy five of the top six spots in the Western Conference.

4. STRONG FINISHES

All four of the Checkers’ goals from Monday’s game came in the third period, giving them a total of 42 goals in the final frame this season. Comparatively, they have scored just 25 times in the first period and 18 times in the second.

Only two teams have scored more goals in any period than Charlotte has in the third: Texas and Toronto, who have 44 and 48 in their third periods, respectively. Charlotte has now scored at least four goals in a period three times this season, all of which were in the third.

The Checkers’ also boast a 6-1 record in overtime, which ties the second-best winning percentage in the AHL.

5. ROAD WARRIORS

With a record of 10-5-0, the Checkers are one of just four AHL teams to post double-digit road victories this season. Last season, the Checkers tied for last in the league with 12 wins away from home and did not earn their 10th until March 22.

Charlotte’s current four-game winning streak on the road is the second-longest active streak in the AHL and its longest since March of 2014. The team has not won five in a row on the road since March-April of 2012.

6. ALL IN ON ALTSHULLER

Goaltender Daniel Altshuller has started each of the Checkers’ last four games - the first four AHL games of his career – and has come away with a perfect 4-0-0 record to go along with 1.73 goals-against average and .937 save percentage. He is the second goalie in Checkers' history to win each of his first four AHL starts behind John Muse, who started 5-0-0 in 2011-12.

At the time of his recall from the Florida Everblades on Dec. 14, the Carolina Hurricanes’ third-round draft pick in 2012 led the ECHL in goals-against average (1.58), save percentage (.941) and shutouts (3). He was named ECHL Goaltender of the Month for November.

7. WELCOME TO THE CLUB

Forward Ethan Werek, who the Checkers signed to a professional tryout contract from the Everblades on Dec. 26, scored a goal in his debut with the team on Monday. The second-round draft pick of the New York Rangers in 2009 now has 77 points (33g, 44a) in 236 career AHL games with Portland, Providence and Charlotte.

Along with Mike Cornell and David Wohlberg, the latter of whom has since upgraded to a standard AHL contract, Werek was one of three Checkers in Monday’s lineup who started on a PTO. All recorded at least one point on Monday, including Wohlberg’s shorthanded goal that held up as the game winner and Cornell’s assist on Zach Boychuk’s empty-net tally.

8. MCGINN IT TO WIN IT

Since returning from Carolina on Dec. 6, forward Brock McGinn has 10 points (4g, 6a) in his last seven games. Despite playing only 17 of the Checkers’ 29 games this season, McGinn ranks third on the team in scoring with 17 points and second on the team with 10 goals.

9. SPENGLER CUP ABSENTEES

Both teams will be missing players for today’s match-up on account of the annual Spengler Cup tournament in Switzerland. Charlotte goalie Drew MacIntyre, who has played in 20 of the team’s 29 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.

MacIntyre, who made 22 saves in Canada’s opening 2-1 victory on Dec. 26, is expected to miss the remainder of the tournament with an undisclosed injury.

10. ODDS AND ENDS

Derek Ryan’s six-game point streak and Keegan Lowe’s three-game point streak each came to an end on Monday. Brock McGinn (0g, 4a), T.J. Hensick (2g, 2a) and Jake Chelios (1g, 3a) all carry three-game streaks into today’s game … Wohlberg has goals in each of his last three road games … Brendan Woods (eight games) and Carter Sandlak (four games) remained out due to injury on Monday … Zach Boychuk, who scored his third goal of the season and first since Nov. 28 on Monday, ranks fifth in the AHL with 90 shots on goal.