Game Preview: Checkers vs Lehigh Valley (Apr. 2, 2019)

The Checkers are back in the Queen City for their final home stand of the season as they host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for a pair of contests. Here is everything to know before pucks drops tonight.

1. TITLE FIGHT

The Checkers became the first team to punch their ticket to the 2019 Calder Cup Playoffs in late March, and now they have a new milestone to aim at. Their magic number to clinch the Atlantic Division title is down to one, giving them two options to do so on Tuesday.

The first comes with Bridgeport’s 10:30 a.m. matchup in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton – should the Sound Tigers lose in any fashion, the Checkers would win the division. If that doesn’t end up happening, the Checkers can take fate into their hands and claim a division title by earning a single point Tuesday night against Lehigh Valley. If the Checkers are able to pull it off, it will be the first division title in franchise history.

2. POTTING POINTS

Andrew Poturalski has headed up the Charlotte offense for nearly the entire season, and his output has shown no signs of slowing down. The third-year forward is currently tied for fifth in the AHL with 65 points, trailing the third-place Daniel Carr by six and the top tandem of Jeremy Bracco and Carter Verhaeghe by 10, with each player having six games remaining on their team’s respective schedule.

Poturalski’s 65 points are also tied for third in franchise history, putting him behind only Chris Terry’s 69-point campaign in 2013-14 and Zach Boychuk’s 74-point effort that same year.

3. BRICK WALL NED

Alex Nedeljkovic’s trophy case got a little more crowded this week as he was named the CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month for March, marking the second time in the last three months that he’s taken home that honor.

The netminder currently leads the league in both wins and goals-against average and has gone 17-3-3 since Jan. 1 while allowing two goals or fewer in 21 of those 23 starts.

4. KILLING IT

The Checkers’ strong play when down a man has rocketed them to the top of the AHL’s penalty kill rankings. Charlotte has gone eight straight games without surrendering a power-play goal, killing off each of their last 29 man advantages. In fact, since Feb. 16 the Checkers have successfully killed 63 of their last 66 times shorthanded.

5. STINGY STARTERS

The Checkers have locked down opponents early on as of late, allowing just one first-period goal in their last 11 games, compared to the 10 they’ve scored themselves. That’s been beneficial for Charlotte as 35 of the team’s 46 wins this season have come when they score the first goal.

6. HOLDING ON

One of the Checkers’ biggest strengths this season has been their ability to hold onto a lead. They have held a lead at the second intermission 34 different times this season and each time they have emerged with a victory. That stranglehold carries over even into the opening period, as the Checkers are 26-4-2 when holding a lead at the first intermission, something they have done 32 times this season.

7. TUNE IN

You can tune in to tonight's broadcast with a subscription to the league’s new streaming platform AHLTV. Sign up here and catch the action on the road.

As always, the radio broadcast will be available via the Checkers app or this link, so tune in and tweet Jason Shaya to let him know you’re listening!