Game Preview: Checkers vs Hartford (Feb 13, 2018)

After a convincing sweep of Springfield over the weekend, the Checkers are looking to keep the home-ice advantage rolling as they welcome the Hartford Wolf Pack to Charlotte for the first time this season.

1. SCOUTING THE WOLF PACK

The Wolf Pack enter tonight’s contest as one of the league’s hottest teams, having gone 9-0-1-0 over their last 10 contests to catapult themselves right behind Charlotte in the Atlantic standings. Hartford has 55 points in 51 games, giving the Checkers a bit of a lead with their 57 points in one fewer game, but this two-game set could have a big impact on those standings.

Hartford enters tonight’s contest missing some key names in their lineup, however. With Marek Mazanec missing the last chunk of games due to injury and Alexandar Georgiev, who shut out the Checkers in the two teams’ last meeting, in the NHL, the Wolf Pack have been deploying the duo of rookie Chris Nell and ECHL call-up Brandon Halverson.

Up front, offensive threats like Peter Holland, John Gilmour, Vinni Lettieri and Ryan Sproul are among several players out of the lineup, though the trio of Scott Kosmachuk, Cole Schneider and Filip Chytil have been especially dangerous as of late with eight, seven and 13 points over the last 10 games, respectively.

2. HOME SWEET HOME

With Saturday’s victory over Springfield, the Checkers have won three home contests in a row and five of their last six. Charlotte is now 15-8-0-1 on home ice this season, with those 15 wins tying for the third-most in the Eastern Conference.

The Checkers’ offense has come alive in those most recent home contests, outscoring their opponents 17-6 over the last three.

3. AT THE TOP

The Checkers currently boast both the league’s top point-getter and the top goal scorer in Andrew Miller and Valentin Zykov, respectively. Zach Boychuk is the only Checkers player to lead the AHL in goals for an entire season, a feat he achieved in 2013-14, while no Checker has ever led the league in scoring.

Zykov’s 24 goals are tied for the seventh most in a single season in franchise history, with Boychuk’s 36 in 2013-14 holding the top spot. Boychuk’s 74 points that same year are also the franchise record.

4. BISHOP BREAKS OUT

With a big weekend against Springfield, Clark Bishop continues to elevate his offensive output from a year ago. After notching four helpers over the last two games, including his second three-assist game of the season, Bishop now has 22 points (6g, 16a) in 48 games. That’s a staggering jump from his rookie campaign, in which Bishop recorded six points (2g, 4a) in 42 games.

5. MILLER TIME

Already one of the team’s most consistent offensive threats, Andrew Miller has ratcheted up the production as of late. The forward has lit the lamp in four consecutive games, one shy of matching the longest by a Checker this season, and has 13 points in his last nine games.

By picking up a goal and two assists Saturday against Springfied, Miller notched his 12th multi-point game of the season and moved into the league lead in scoring.

6. SHORTHANDED SUCCESS

Clark Bishop’s breakaway tally on Saturday was not only the second shorthanded goal scored by the Checkers in as many nights, it was the team’s ninth of the season, moving them into a tie for second in the AHL.

7. GET THE APP

The Checkers app got a fresh new set of paint during the offseason but functions just the same. Follow along with scoring updates as well as play the Top Line interactive game.

You will also be able to listen to the radio broadcast via the app or this link. Jason Shaya’s pregame show starts 15 minutes prior to puck drop, tune in and tweet Jason to let him know you’re listening.