Game Preview: Checkers vs. Iowa (Dec. 15, 2015)

After getting on track with two straight road wins, the Checkers will look to make it successful return to home ice as they host the Iowa Wild on Tuesday.

Here are THINGS to know as the four-game home stand at Bojangles' Coliseum kicks off:

1. Wild About the Wild

Including four this season, the Checkers have won each of their last eight games against tonight’s opponent, the Iowa Wild, dating back to Dec. 8 of last season. In two of this season’s wins, the Checkers were able to erase three-goal, third period deficits, including an outburst of six unanswered goals on Nov. 28 that still ranks as the most prolific period posted by an AHL team this season.

The Checkers, who routinely host the same team for consecutive games, have won both games just four times in the last two seasons. Three of those sweeps were against Iowa.

Charlotte has an all-time record of 12-4-0 against the Wild.

2. Tough Times in Iowa

The Checkers’ most recent win against the Wild extended Iowa’s winless streak to 13 games, which was the longest in the AHL since Springfield went 17 without a win in 2009-10. Since then, the Wild got back in the win column in their subsequent game at Lake Erie but went on to drop their next four (0-3-1), putting them on yet another winless streak entering tonight’s match-up.

The Wild currently rank 30th in the AHL win a winning percentage of .232 (4-19-5).

3. Familiar Faces

The Wild boast a trio of players whose names may be familiar to Checkers fans and, in particular, Checkers players. Unfortunately, one of those, Zac Dalpe, who ranks fourth on Charlotte’s all-time scoring list, is out due to injury. However, Kyle Hagel’s brother Marc recently returned to the lineup and has played in each of the Wild’s last three games.

Former Checkers captain Brett Sutter is expected to play once again. On Nov. 28, he managed to score his first goal against his former team to make it 4-1 - a lead that was taken away thanks in part to his cousin Brody, who would later make it 4-3. Brett Sutter, who ranks third on Charlotte’s all-time scoring list, has six points in 28 games this season.

4. Jordan Returns

Former Checkers captain Michal Jordan is back in Charlotte on a conditioning stint from the parent Carolina Hurricanes. Should he play tonight as expected, it would mark his first AHL contest since Feb. 19 of last season. Jordan has logged 297 games over five seasons with the Checkers, putting him third in franchise history. He has totaled 92 points (20g, 72a) in a Checkers sweater, the most among franchise defensemen.

5. Murphy Sits Out

Checkers defenseman Ryan Murphy will miss the team’s next three games due to an AHL suspension for a clipping incident that occurred during the Checkers’ most recent game at Texas. Murphy, an AHL All Star last season, who has six points in six AHL games this season and 47 points in 56 career AHL contests, is eligible to return Sunday, Dec. 20, against Lake Erie.

6. Brock Solid

Despite splitting his time between Charlotte and Raleigh, Brock McGinn has been lights out this season for the Checkers. The second-year pro has put up 12 points in as many games and ranks second on the team with nine goals, just one behind leader Derek Ryan. McGinn's scoring has come in bunches, as he has four multi-goal games this season. He ranks second in the AHL with a shooting percentage of 31.0.

McGinn's five-point outburst on the team's most recent two-game road trip earned the forward AHL Player of the Week honors. He is the fourth Checker to recieve the award and the first since John Muse won it twice in 2013-14.

7. Ryan Rolling In The Points

Derek Ryan has continued his consistently-high offensive output and has moved into a tie for 10th in the league in scoring with 22 points (10g, 12a) in 24 games. The captain has emerged as one of the Checkers' most dominant threats so far, both at even strength and on the power play, where his nine points lead the team.

8. Cardiac Checkers

Including their win in San Antonio this week, the Checkers have scored the game-winning or game-tying goal in the final two minutes of regulation six times this season. Charlotte has come away with four wins this season in games where they trailed after two periods, the most in the league. Three of those instances came on the road.

Friday's win over Texas marked the first time this season that the Checkers have seen a game end in overtime, win or lose. They are 4-0 in shootouts this season and are one of only two teams (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is 4-0) that has not lost an overtime or shootout game this season.

9. Proving His Worth

Since signing an AHL contract on Dec. 4, David Wohlberg has three point in four games and is currently on a three-game point streak.

10. Special Teams Standing Out

The Checkers have gotten some exceptional play from their special teams units as of late. Charlotte has killed 34 of their last 37 penalties (90.1 percent), shutting down three teams (Texas, San Antonio, Ontario) in the top 12 overall in power-play percentage.

On the other side, the Checkers' power-play unit continues to be lethal, staying in the top 10 in the AHL with a 20 percent success rate on the man advantage.

11. Random Stats

Trevor Carrick has assists and points in each of his last four games (4a) ... The Checkers have still not lost a game in which they have held a lead at either intermission ... Zach Boychuk is tied for fourth in the AHL in shots on goal (80) ... Forward Brendan Woods has missed each of the last three games due to injury ... Daniel Altshuller, recalled from ECHL Florida in exchange for Rasmus Tirronen on Monday, leads the ECHL in goals-against average (1.58), save percentage (.941) and shutouts (three) but has yet to make his AHL debut.