Game Preview: Checkers vs. Chicago (March 10, 2016)

The Checkers’ new-look lineup looks to make it two wins in a row since a busy AHL trade deadline as the Chicago Wolves are in town to complete a two-game set at Bojangles’ Coliseum tonight.

Here are eight things to know about the matchup:

1. NEW GUYS DELIVER

Tuesday’s 3-2 shootout win over Chicago saw several of the team’s recent acquisitions feature in one way or another, with Andrew Miller netting a power-play goal with an assist to Blair Jones and John Muse coming up huge in overtime and the shootout to bring home the victory.

Tonight’s game could potentially see the debut of Dane Fox, who the Carolina Hurricanes acquired via trade earlier in the week. Should he play, the Checkers could have as many as six new forwards that were not in their lineup just two games earlier. Valentin Zykov (injured) and Andrew Poturalski could add to that total soon but are unlikely to play tonight.

2. BACK IN THE SADDLE

Since rejoining the Checkers on the day of the NHL trade deadline, Muse, the team’s all-time wins leader, has settled in nicely. Despite not having played in nearly two full months prior to the trade with the Texas Stars, Muse has appeared in each of the Checkers’ last three games, starting the last two, posting a 1.58 goals-against average and .929 save percentage.

3. STINGY ON DEFENSE

The Checkers’ 18 shots allowed against Chicago on Tuesday tied the lowest amount they have allowed all season. Had the Wolves not been able to fire six during a typically frantic three-on-three overtime period, the total of 12 allowed through regulation time would have shattered the franchise record of 17 set twice previously, most recently in November of 2014.

4. SLUMP BUSTERS

Tuesday’s win over the Wolves ended Charlotte’s franchise-record home winless streak at eight games (0-7-1). At the time, it was the longest active streak in the league and stands as the third-longest posted by an AHL team this season. The Checkers how hold a 12-14-3 record at Bojangles’ Coliseum as opposed to a 16-10-3 record on the road.

5. PLAYOFF RACE

Charlotte remains just outside the playoff bubble in the Western Conference. With a points percentage of .534, they trail Lake Erie (.600) by a fair amount for the fourth and final spot in the Central Division. However, they are closer to qualifying in the Pacific Division bracket on the new crossover rule, as that division’s fourth-place team, San Jose, is at .565.

6. AGAINST THE WOLVES

Tuesday’s win improved the Checkers to 2-2-2 in the eight-game season series against Chicago, with the Wolves winning four of the six match-ups in one way or another. Charlotte defenseman Trevor Carrick has victimized the Wolves for 10 points (3g, 7a) in six games this season, while Danny Kristo (12 points) and Pat Cannone (10) are also averaging well over a point-per game in the series.

Each of the last four meetings between the teams were decided by one goal, with three coming by way of shootout.

7. FREE HOCKEY

By winning Tuesday’s shootout, the Checkers reversed a streak in which they had lost each of their last four overtime games. Thanks to a hot start to the season in that department, the team still holds an 8-6 record in overtime games this season, which breaks down to a 3-3 record during the five-minute, three-on-three period and a 5-3 mark in shootouts.

In the shootout, Charlotte ranks in the league’s top 10 in both goal scoring (.364 percent, 8th) and goaltending (.800 – t-7th).

8. HERE AND THERE

Tuesday’s game marked just the third time in 24 games that the Checkers led after the first period (1-0) … Center Brody Sutter is expected to play his 200th AHL game tonight … Carrying over from his time in Bakersfield, Miller has 13 points in his last 12 games … Jones leads the Checkers with 132 games of NHL experience, with the rest of the team combining for just 70 … Defensemen Rasmus Rissanen missed the team’s last game due to injury, while fellow bluliner Danny Biega has missed the last 26 … Kyle Hagel ranks second in the AHL with 14 major penalties. Mike Cornell ranks third among defensemen with 11 … Carrick is tied for sixth among AHL defensemen with 36 points. He ranks tied for second among league blueliners in power-play points (21) and power-play assists (17) … The Checkers’ power play, which ranks second in the AHL at 21.8 percent, has just one goal in its last 16 opportunities.