Game Preview: Checkers vs. Manitoba (Nov. 7, 2015)

Tonight marks the Checkers' long-awaited return to Bojangles' Coliseum, as they welcome the Manitoba Moose to town for their home opener after spending their first 10 contests on the road.

Here are some things to know heading into tonight's matchup:

1. SOLID START

The Checkers enter tonight's contest with a 6-4-0-0 record on the season, marking the team's best 10-game start since 2012-13 and the second-best road start in franchise history. Last season, the Checkers didn't capture their sixth win until the 18th game of the year.

2. MAC ATTACK

After setting Checkers' single-season records for games and minutes played last season, Drew MacIntyre is on pace to do so once again after playing in each of the team's first 10 games. Nine of those were starts, while the other appearance came in relief of rookie Rasmus Tirronen.

MacIntyre currently leads the AHL in games played (10) and minutes (551). He is also one win shy of moving into a tie for eighth in AHL history.

3. UPS AND DOWNS

The Checkers' offense exploded out of the gate, racking up 21 in the first four games of the season, but fell back to Earth shortly after, netting just 10 through the next five games. The team hopes to have broken that slump with a six-goal outburst against Lake Erie in their more recent contest, and still boast the fifth-best goals per game average in the AHL even with the downturn.

4. BLUE LINE TAKES CHARGE

Charlotte's hot start has been largely propelled by the production of their defensemen. Of the team's top seven scorers, four are defensemen. Trevor Carrick, building off his record-breaking rookie campaign, has led the way, shares the league lead in goals by a defensemen and is tied for eighth in scoring. The other three- Danny Biega, Jake Chelios and Jaccob Slavin- all have six points, tying them for 16th in the AHL.

5. PHIL-ING IT UP

There has been no sophomore slump for Phil Di Giuseppe. After finishing last season second among team rookies in scoring, the second-year pro currently leads the team with 10 points in 10 games this season. The 22-year-old has recorded a point in eight of the team's 10 games and has been the Checkers' most explosive forward thus far.

6. FINISH STRONG

Of the 37 goals that the Checkers have scored this season, 20 have come in the third period, the highest total in any period in the AHL. Additionally, the Checkers have scored the game-winning or game-tying goal in the final two minutes of regulation three times this season.

On the opposite end of the spectrum have been the team's second periods. Through 10 games, the Checkers have only scored five goals in the middle frames.

7. SHOOTOUT SUCCESS

The Checkers won their third shootout in as many opportunities this season last Saturday. Between the pipes, Drew MacIntyre has been a perfect six-for-six, moving his mark to 27-for-29 in a Checkers sweater. Dating back to last season, the Checkers have won eight of their last nine shootouts.

8. LINEUP NOTES

Justin Shugg, who has been sidelined for the last seven games with an upper-body injury, is expected to be available for tonight's game, though whether he will play is still up in the air. Danny Biega has not practiced with the team all week due to injury.