Game Preview: Checkers vs Rockford (Nov. 2, 2016)

The Checkers are back in action at Bojangles’ Coliseum after two straight wins over the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Here are 9 things to watch for in tonight’s tilt with the Rockford IceHogs.

1. PREPERATION

The Checkers didn’t have much time to revel in their weekend sweep of the Grand Rapids Griffins, as the Rockford IceHogs are in town just four days later.

Despite the positive results, head coach Ulf Samuelsson saw a handful of things he wasn’t quite happy with over the two games and used this short week of practice to address them.

“There’s always a list of things you want to get to,” said Samuelsson. “There were some rush reads and some defensive zone coverage we worked on. Also working on getting the D more involved in the rush.”

2. THE CAPTAIN CATCHES FIRE

Derek Ryan has roared out to a hot start to the season, filling up the score sheet with 10 points through the first six games, enough to tie him for second in the AHL. The forward has recorded at least two points in each of his last two contests and in three of his last four, and is currently riding a four-game point streak.

During his team-best 55-point season a year ago, it took Ryan until game number 13 to record his 10th point.

3. LEIGHTON COMMANDING THE CREASE

After getting just one start through the first four games of the season, Michael Leighton is slated to make his third consecutive start tonight.

Leighton has been between the pipes for all three of the Checkers’ wins this season, including turning in a 30-save performance Saturday night to earn his AHL-best 47th career shutout. The veteran’s 1.91 goals-against average stands as the fifth lowest among goalies with at least four games played.

Leighton needs just one more win to move into a tie for eighth all time with former Checker Drew MacIntyre. He will get the chance tonight against the IceHogs, a team he has played each of the last two seasons for.
“Leighton is going to start the first game and then we’ll take it from there,” said Samuelsson after Tuesday’s practice.

4. MCGINN FINDING HIS TOUCH

One of the Checkers’ most dangerous offensive weapons, Brock McGinn has recorded a point in each of the last four games. He has also broken his cold goal-scoring start to the season, lighting the lamp twice in Friday’s win over the Griffins. It marked the ninth time in his AHL career that McGinn has recorded two goals in one game, and moved him into a tie for eighth on Charlotte’s all-time goals list with Brody Sutter.

5. KILLING IT

The Checkers enter tonight tied for the sixth-best penalty kill percentage in the AHL, successfully killing 24 of the 27 penalties that they have taken.

Additionally, they have put up three shorthanded goals already, tied for the most in the league and nearly matching their total of five from all of last season.

6. THE BIG THREE

Charlotte’s top trio of Derek Ryan, Brock McGinn and Valentin Zykov has been red hot as of late. Of the Checkers’ seven goals over the last two games, three were scored with all three players on the ice, while six of the seven were scored with Ryan and McGinn out there.

7. HELLO ROCKFORD

The Checkers and IceHogs were fairly even-matched, with Charlotte going 4-3-0-1 and Rockford going 4-2-1-1. Three of the eight meetings went to overtime or a shootout, with the Checkers winding up with both points in two of those instances.

The games themselves ended up being tight, low-scoring affairs for the most part. Four of the eight meetings ended with a final score of 2-1, with one more game ending 1-0. All in all, seven of the eight contests between Charlotte and Rockford featured one club scoring just one goal.

8. SCORING HOGS

Rockford’s scoring totals haven’t been great thus far, with the team ranking in the bottom third of the league in goals per game, but they have their fair share of weapons.

After spending last season playing in the top Swedish league, Spencer Abbott is back in an IceHogs sweater and putting up points. The veteran forward has seven points through the first eight games, tying him for the team lead with Mark McNeill, who is back after leading Rockford in goals a season ago.

9. WET YOUR WHISTLE ON WINNING WEDNESDAY

If you needed another reason to come out to a Checkers game, look no further than our Wednesday night promos. Every Wednesday game features Bud Light draughts for $1, as well as the opportunity to get a free ticket to the next Wednesday game (Nov. 23 in this case) if the Checkers pull off the win.