Game Preview: Checkers vs. Milwaukee (Nov. 14, 2015)

After splitting last weekend's home-opening series with the Manitoba Moose, the Checkers hope to do they same by avenging Friday's 4-3 loss with tonight's rematch against Milwaukee.

Here are some things to know heading into the matchup:

1. STREAKING ADMIRALS

Milwaukee enters tonight's contest as one of the hottest teams in the league, having won each of its last five and earned a point in seven of its last eight (6-1-1). The Admirals have outscored their opponents 19-12 during that five-game streak. In netrookie Juuse Saros has taken over the crease with Marek Mazanec heading to Nashville and has impressed, winning each of his last four starts, including Friday's.

Viktor Arvidsson has been the Admirals' most consistent scorer this season one point in all eight games he has played this season, tying him with Max Reinhart for the team' scoring lead. Rookie defenseman Trevor Murphy is also on point-per-game pace through seven outings thanks to an outburst of five points in his last three contests.

2. CORNELL GRAD

In his first AHL game of the season, Checkers defenseman Mike Cornell fired the team's first two goals in Friday's loss. It marked the first professional multi-goal game for Cornell, who had seven goals in his previous 79 AHL games.

Cornell joined the Checkers on a professional tryout contract from the ECHL's Florida Everblades on Thursday. He scored five points in 18 games with the Checkers last season.

3. CHECKERS HURTING

The Checkers will likely be without several key pieces this weekend. The situation up front isn't too bad, with T.J. Hensick the only forward to miss Friday's game, but the blue line is where the Checkers are really feeling the injuries start to pile up.

Danny Biega, Keegan Lowe and Tyler Ganly were unable to practice all week, with Rasmus Rissanen joining them on the injuried list during Friday's loss - a development that saw the Checkers play the majority of a contest with just five defensemen for the third straight outing.

Should Rissanen be unable to play Saturday, the Checkers could be forced to bring in a third blueliner from the ECHL ranks to join Cornell and rookie Justin Agosta, who now has two career AHL games under his belt. They had two extra forwards on Friday (Erik Karlsson and Carter Sandlak did not play) and could also elect to dress 13 in a pinch.

4. SHUGG BOUNCES BACK

For the second consecutive year, Justin Shugg was sidelined early on due to injury. But that hasn't slowed down last year's scoring leader, who has three points (1g, 2a) in three games since returning to action on Nov. 7, including a goal on Friday. For the season, he has six points in six games.

5. STILL SEARCHING

Despite ranking third in the AHL with 49 shots on goal, Zach Boychuk has now gone 13 games without a goal, which marks the longest drought of his seven professional seasons. In his previous five years with Charlotte, his longest drought to start a season was five games in 2010-11. In every other season, he scored his first goal in either his first or second.

Boychuk, who won the Willie Marshall award as the AHL's top goal scorer with 36 in 2012-13, finished last season on a seven-game drought. His last goal was on March 22 at Iowa.\

6. BROCK'S BACK

After a 12-game stint in the NHL, Brock McGinn is back in Charlotte. McGinn impressed during his stay, netting three points (2g, 1a), but began to see his ice time dwindle as the Hurricanes began to have players return from injury. Now he will go back to being a top option for the Checkers, looking to build off a hot start that saw him two points in as many AHL games.

"I think it's important that he get used to playing a lot again and in a lot of key situations, but it was evident
that he hasn't played much," coach Mark Morris said following Friday's loss to Milwaukee.

7. MAC ATTACK

Drew MacIntyre has continued to shoulder a heavy workload this season, ranking second in the AHL in minutes played (668) and fourth in saves (276). He now just needs one victory to tie Red Almas for eighth in AHL history with 218 victories.

MacIntyre has played in all but one of the Checkers' 13 games this season, with Rasmus Tirronen getting Charlotte's most recent victory in his only complete outing of the season last week. MacIntyre started on back-to-back nights earlier this season on Oct. 10 and 11, picking up the victory both times.

8. BOMBS FROM THE BLUE LINE

Led by Trevor Carrick, whose four goals are tied for third among AHL defensemen and just one off the league lead, Charlotte defensemen have accounted for 11 of the team's 43 goals this season. Five different defensemen have scored goals for the Checkers this season, with Cornell joining that party on Friday.

9. CONSISTENTLY INCONSISTENT

Since starting the season with three straight wins, the Checkers have not won consecutive games, with Friday's 4-3 loss to Milwaukee another opportunity lost. Charlotte has alternated wins and losses for each of its last nine games dating back to Oct. 21, which was the second and final game of its only losing streak this season.

10. BUILDING A LEAD

Of their seven wins this season, they Checkers scored the first goal in six of them. Additionally, they have not lost a game in which they were leading at either intermission.

11. PERIOD BY PERIOD

Charlotte has had by far the most offensive success in third periods to the tune of 22 goals this season. Meanwhile, they have 12 in first periods and just six in second periods.

12. SHOTS FIRED

The Checkers are out-shooting their opponents by a total of 443-355 (+88) this season but are out-scoring their opponents by a total of 43-42 (+1).