QUICK HITS
AT THE BREAK
Tonight’s contest is the first for both teams after the AHL All-Star Classic. Heading into the back half of the season, the Checkers stand as the second-hottest team in the Eastern Conference - boasting a 7-2-0-1 record over their last 10 contests. That strong surge has helped them narrow the gap behind the division-leading Bears and Bruins - both of whom currently sit nine points ahead of the Checkers.ON A HEATER
The Checkers enter this weekend having won each of their last five contests - marking their longest winning streak of the season and standing as the second-longest active streak in the AHL.The first-place Marlies are similarly 7-3-0-0 in their last 10 games, but two of their last three games heading into the break.
LET THE OFFENSE COOK
A key part of Charlotte’s recent hot streak has been an uptick in offensive production. The Checkers have scored five goals in each of their last three games and at least four goals in six of their last seven contests.They’ll go toe-to-toe this weekend with a Toronto squad that boasts a top-10 offense and the best power-play in the AHL.
BETWEEN THE PIPES
With Alex Lyon back in Charlotte for the first time since early January, the Checkers once again have their three-man group between the pipes. Mack Guzda and J-F Berube have been strong during Lyon’s absence - Guzda has wins in three straight starts and six of his last seven, while the veteran Berube is 2-0-1 in his last three starts and has posted at least 30 saves in three of his last four appearances.COMING IN
CLT: 5-0-0-0 in last five gamesTOR: 3-2-0-0 in last five games
WHO TO WATCH
CLT
Connor Bunnaman - 9 points in last 7 gamesLogan Hutsko - 6 points in last 5 games
Aleksi Heponiemi - 4 points in last 3 games
TOR
Logan Shaw - 4 points in last 3 gamesBobby McMann - 11 points in last 8 games
Joseph Blandisi - 3 points in last 3 games
SEE YOU THERE!
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TUNE IN
Tonight's game starts at 7 p.m. If you can't be at the Coliseum, you can tune in to the broadcast with a subscription to the league’s streaming platform AHLTVThe radio broadcast will be available via the Checkers app on iPhone or Android.
Additionally, our friends over at Ed's Tavern on 2200 Park Road are going to be showing the game on their TVs!
