Game Preview: Checkers vs. Grand Rapids (Jan. 13, 2016)

After seeing their record point streak come to an end last night, the Checkers have an opportunity to start a new one in tonight’s rematch with the Grand Rapids Griffins at Bojangles’ Coliseum.

Here are 10 things to know about the meeting between two hot teams that are currently neck-to-neck in the Central Division:

1. GOOD THING COMES TO AN END

Last night’s 5-3 loss to Grand Rapids ended the Checkers’ franchise-record point streak at 12 games (10-0-2). It was the second-longest streak in the AHL this season, with the Griffins’ 15-game run ending Dec. 26 holding up as the longest. Prior to last night, Charlotte had not lost in regulation since Dec. 6.

Over the course of the streak, the Checkers went from sixth place in the Central Division with a .500 winning percentage on the day of its first game, Dec. 9, to third in the Central with a .647 winning percentage on the day of its last game, Jan. 12.

2. GRIFFINS FLYING HIGH

In defeating the Checkers, Grand Rapids, despite missing several players due to injury, improved to 20-3-0 in their last 23 games. A few newcomers helped them win last night’s initial meeting between the AHL’s two hottest teams, as Jakub Kindl scored the winner in his first game down from the Detroit Red Wings and former Checker A.J. Jenks picked up an assist in his Griffins debut.

Meanwhile, a pair of usual suspects continues to be a thorn in the Checkers’ side as Andy Miele (12 points in 10 games against the Checkers) and Martin Frk (seven in his last seven against Charlotte) each enjoyed multi-point outings on Tuesday.

3. TOUGH CROWD

Both Grand Rapids (second) and Charlotte (fourth) currently find themselves in a playoff spot among the top four teams in the Central Division, with the Griffins holding just one standing point more than the Checkers. Five of the AHL’s top 10 teams in terms of winning percentage call the Central home, with Rockford (first Central), Milwaukee (second) and Lake Erie (fifth) also enjoying strong first halves.

4. WELCOME TO THE CLUB

Forward Ethan Werek, who the Checkers signed to a professional tryout contract on Dec. 26, posted career highs with three points (2g, 1a) and seven shots on goal in Tuesday’s loss. The veteran of 241 career AHL games, who had 26 points in 25 games with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades before coming to Charlotte, also posted a game-high, plus-2 rating and now has four points in six games as a Checker.

5. FOURTH-LINE FOCUS

All three of the Checkers’ goals on Tuesday came from fourth-line players, with forward Kyle Hagel netting his first since April of last season sandwiched between Werek’s double. Meanwhile, center David Wohlberg picked up a pair of assists to tie his career high of 12 points set in each of the last two seasons.

6. ALTSHULLER’S FIRST LOSS

Checkers goalie Daniel Altshuller suffered his first regulation loss in nine career AHL appearances Tuesday as he fell to 7-1-1 since joining the team on Dec. 14. His four goals allowed to Grand Rapids were a career high and the only the second time he has allowed more than two.

Despite the loss, Altshuller, who led the ECHL with a 1.58 goals-against average and .941 save percentage upon joining the Checkers, retains a sterling 1.76 GAA and .941 SV%. He has started nine of the Checkers’ last 10 games, with current backup Rasmus Tirronen getting the other while Drew MacIntyre remains sidelined due to injury.

7. THREE IS (USUALLY) KEY

Tuesday’s loss marked just the fifth time this season that the Checkers have not emerged victorious when hitting the three-goal mark. For the season, they are now 18-4-1 when accomplishing that feat compared to 3-8-1 when they fall short. The Checkers have scored three or more in 11 of their last 13 outings dating back to Dec. 9 and now rank sixth in the AHL with an average of 3.11 goals per outing.

8. HOME AND ROAD

Though Charlotte enjoyed a four-game point streak (3-0-1) at home prior to Tuesday’s loss, they now find themselves back to the .500 mark at Bojangles’ Coliseum with a record of 7-7-1. Meanwhile, they are among the league’s most successful road teams at 14-5-1, giving them the second-most victories away from home in the league. Charlotte, which began a six-game home stand on Tuesday and will play 11 of its next 14 at the coliseum, currently has a franchise-record, nine-game point streak on the road (8-0-1) that is the longest active streak in the league.

9. POWER DOWN

Tuesday’s game ended a six-game streak in which the Checkers had scored at least one power-play goal and a three-game streak in which they had scored two in each contest. Even after going 0-for-3 in their first game against the Griffins, the Checkers are converting at a 30 percent rate (9-for-30) in their last seven games and rank fourth in the league at 21.3 percent for the season.

10. ODDS AND ENDS

Checkers center T.J. Hensick is one shy of 500 professional points … Sergey Tolchinsky’s five-game point streak (3g, 5a) came to an end on Tuesday … Mike Cornell ranks second among AHL defensemen with a 16.7 shooting percentage and is fifth in major penalties (six) despite playing just 15 games … Checkers captain Derek Ryan ranks sixth in the AHL with 32 points, just four off the league lead … Trevor Carrick ranks tied for ninth among AHL defensemen in scoring and is tied for fifth with seven goals.