Game 5 Preview: Checkers vs Lehigh Valley (May 11, 2018)

After a historic Game 4 that ended in heartbreaking fashion, the Checkers look to stave off elimination with their final home game of the series.

1. MARATHON MEN

Game 5 comes on the heels of the longest game in AHL history. The Checkers and Phantoms locked in a five-overtime thriller of a Game 4 that lasted over six hours and didn’t end until after 1 a.m. The Checkers ended up on the wrong side of things, but the night was historic regardless.

“That was pretty crazy, right?” said Checkers head coach Mike Vellucci after the game. “It’s a learning experience really – that’s the best thing I can say for all these young guys. In 25 years of coaching I’ve never went this long. I don’t think I ever went past the second [overtime]. They gave everything they had and they should be proud of themselves.”

The game broke the AHL’s previous record, set 10 years ago also by affiliates of the Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes.

2. BACKS AGAINST THE WALL

With the Phantoms taking Game 4, the Checkers now find themselves trailing in the Atlantic Division Finals 3-1. Facing elimination for the first time this postseason, the Checkers will have to win three straight games to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

“That’s one of the positive things about our team, we respond to adversity,” said Vellucci. “I expect the same thing here. Part of my talk to them today was that we went 19-3-1 in our last 23 games and we’ve won three games in a row nine times. Why can’t we do it a 10th time?

“If there’s a team that’s going to come back from 3-1, it’s this team. There’s no doubt in my mind. I believe it. These guys have been tremendous and have stuck together. It’s been a wonderful season and I want it to continue and I believe it will.”

While the end goal is to take the next three contests from Lehigh Valley, it all starts with Game 5.

“You don’t take it as a three-game stretch,” said Andrew Miller. “Each game in this league is tough. We have to keep doing what we’ve been doing. You’ve got to outplay them each period, get good goaltending and score goals. We’ve kind of lacked on the goal scoring aspect so putting some goals in early is important.”

Coming off a heartbreaker in Game 4, the key for Charlotte will be flipping the page for Game 5.

“We all just have to shake it off and do our best,” said Vellucci. “Make your chances, make your breaks. Don’t wait for it to happen. Go out there and take it. Play to win, that’s the key. Don’t worry about losing the game or losing that shift. Play to win.

“We win that first one and we put the pressure on them.”

3. TAMING LYON

The big story of Game 4 became Alex Lyon’s 94-save performance. The Phantom’s netminder has stymied the Checkers throughout the series, backstopping Lehigh Valley to all three of their victories and allowing three combined goals in those contests.

“He’s in the zone,” said Vellucci. “He made some incredible saves where everybody on the bench had their arms up. That’s hockey. A goalie gets hot one night so we’ve just got to find a way to get that tough one on him.”

Despite Lyon’s strong play, the team believes in what they’re throwing his way.

“We outchanced them in that 5 OT game 45-19,” said Vellucci. “What else can you do? The chances we were getting, we had traffic, we had rebounds, we had all kinds of stuff. We had 17 O-Zone plays, nine or 10 off the rush and only one or two on the power play because there was only a couple of those, then we hit the crossbar three times. So we’re getting our chances. You can say to bear down or whatever but honestly I’m just going to tell them to keep doing what they’re doing and we’re going to score.”

“Frustration is tough, but having the opportunities is a good thing, it gives you confidence,” said Andrew Miller. “If you’re down in a series and you’re not getting any chances you start to grip the stick a little tighter. But if we can get more dialed in around the net and get a little bit hungrier and keep playing the way we’re playing, we’ve got an offensive team and we definitely have the ability to put the puck in the net.”

For the top-ranked offense during the regular season it can be tough to come up empty in the playoffs, but the leaders in the locker room are making sure the young skaters keep their heads up.

“I think sometimes if you’re not scoring goals and you’re not getting points as a super-offensive guy, you get a little down,” said Miller. “So we’re making sure those guys know that they’re playing well and making plays and get them to keep making those plays. That’s the only way to get out of a slump, to keep shooting and keep making plays. Frustration is a detriment to anyone in all aspects of life so if you can support those guys a little bit, it’s helpful.”

4. FAMILIAR FOES

Four games into their playoff series, the Checkers and Phantoms have squared off a total of 12 times this season. While the regular season series finished in a 4-4-0 deadlock, the Checkers outscored the Phantoms cumulatively 28-22. Now in the postseason, the Phantoms hold a 3-1 edge through four games but the goals total remains even at nine apiece.

As the numbers indicate, these are two very evenly matched squads. So, having played the same Phantoms squad four times in a row, the teams are at least starting to familiarize with each other, right?

“Yeah but at the same time each game is different,” said Miller. “Different scenarios and different situations with the puck and goal scoring opportunities. But you find out tendencies and what guys like to do and where there’s going to be a little more space. Having that opportunity to play them four games in a row – and hopefully a few more – is important.”

5. BLUE LINE ON THE MEND

After getting caught with a hit to the head by Lehigh Valley’s Nicolas Aube-Kubel – who will finish his three-game suspension by sitting out Saturday – in Game 1, Josiah Didier has been sidelined. While he appears to be making positive progress, his status for Game 5 remains unknown.

“Not sure yet,” said Vellucci after Friday’s workout. “We’ll know more before the game.”

Didier began the year in the ECHL but quickly carved out an everyday spot on the Charlotte blue line. In his absence, the Checkers have plugged both Jake Bean, who made his pro debut in Game 2, and Dennis Robertson, who played his first game of the postseason in Game 3, into the lineup.

“Playing in his first pro game I thought Bean built as it went on, he got better,” said Velluci. “I thought Robo did a very good job, he was physical and had good patience with the puck. I really liked his game.”

6. NED STAYS STRONG

While Lyon has gotten his share of the spotlight, the Alex on the other side of the ice has been putting together quite the run as well. Nedeljkovic logged over 120 minutes – or two full games – of shutout hockey during the Game 4 marathon, and has continued to put up some of the best numbers during the Calder Cup Playoffs.

“Everybody wrote him off last year like he wasn’t a good goalie as a rookie,” said Vellucci following Game 4. “But he’s proven everyone wrong again this year. He’s a heck of a goaltender and heck of a prospect, and he played outstanding for us tonight.”

7. GET THE APP

If you’re not able to make it to tonight's game, you can purchase the game on AHL Live.

You will also be able to listen to the radio broadcast via the Checkers app or this link. Jason Shaya’s pregame show starts 15 minutes prior to puck drop, tune in and tweet Jason to let him know you’re listening.