Game Preview: Checkers vs Binghamton (March 17, 2018)

The Checkers wrap up their home stand with a two-game set against the Binghamton Devils, who are visiting Charlotte for the first time.

1. PLAYOFF PUSH

With only a handful of games remaining on the schedule, the race for the final Atlantic Division playoff spot is heating up. The Checkers currently sit in fourth, as they have for much of the last few months. But right on their heels is Bridgeport, who is surging after winning seven of its last 10 contests. The Sound Tigers trail the Checkers by five points in the standings while having played one less game.

The Sound Tigers will keep at least one game in hand until their second-to-last game of the season, right before their finale against the Checkers.

“I hate repeating myself, but every point is important,” said head coach Mike Vellucci. “It doesn’t matter who you’re playing, you have to play the right to get into the playoffs.”

2. PREVIOUSLY

The Checkers and Devils have squared off twice already this season, both in Binghamton. The Checkers took the first meeting with a decisive 7-1 throttling, but the Devils flipped the script in the rematch two days after Christmas, crushing Charlotte 6-2.

“They whacked us pretty good in their building last time we played them. They’re a good, hard working team. The record to me doesn’t mean anything. They’ve got good structure, they work hard and they compete. In this league anyone can win on any night, especially if they’re working hard.”

The Devils come into this weekend’s series with the second-worst record in the AHL, but boast plenty of talent that make them a team to not overlook.

“They whacked us pretty good in their building last time we played them. They’re a good, hard working team. The record to me doesn’t mean anything. They’ve got good structure, they work hard and they compete. In this league anyone can win on any night, especially if they’re working hard.”

3. HOME SWEET HOME

By dropping the Penguins in Wednesday’s rematch, the Checkers improved to 21-10-0-1 at Bojangles’ Coliseum. That ties Charlotte for the most home wins in the AHL this season and make it one of just three teams with at least 20.

The franchise record for most home wins in a single season is 27, set last season. The Checkers have six remaining home games on the slate.

4. POWERING UP

After enduring a tough run to end the month of February, the Charlotte power play has turned itself around as of late. The Checkers, who rank third overall in the AHL with a 20.8 percentage, have notched a goal on the man advantage in each of their last six contests, going 5-1-0 during that stretch.

The Checkers have been especially lethal on the power play at home, where their 27 percent clip leads the league.

5. FIRING SQUAD

The Checkers, who rank 20th in the AHL with an average of 29.67 shots on goal per game, have passed the 30-shot mark in five of their last eight games.

Charlotte has enjoyed more success this season when registering more shots than its opponent, with 22 of the team’s 36 wins coming in those scenarios.

6. TIGHT GAMES

As the schedule dwindles down to the end, the Checkers have found themselves embattled in several tight contests.

Since Feb. 14, nine of the Checkers’ last 13 have been decided by two or fewer goals, with Charlotte going 7-2-0 in those contests. Overall this season, the Checkers are 18-10-0-3 in games that have been decided by two or fewer goals.

7. WELCOME TO CHARLOTTE

Carolina’s trade deadline acquisition of Greg McKegg has proved to be a beneficial one for the Checkers. With two goals on Wednesday against his former team, the forward now has seven points (3g, 4a) in seven games with Charlotte and has recorded at least one point in six of those seven contests.

In 28 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton earlier this season, McKegg totaled 12 points (5g, 7a).

8. NED'S WINNING WAYS

Alex Nedeljkovic has continued to shine in his sophomore season, winning four of his last five appearances and 10 of his last 13. Wednesday’s victory over the Penguins gave the netminder 28 on the season, a total that not only leads the AHL, but gives Nedeljkovic the franchise single-season record.

9. WALLMARK LENDS A HELPING HAND

Since returning from his most recent NHL stint, Lucas Wallmark has been a scoring machine for the Checkers. The Swede has seven helpers in his last four games for Charlotte, including a stretch of three consecutive two-assist games.

10. STAY POSITIVE

The blue-line duo of Roland McKeown and Philip Samuelsson has been one of the most consistent across the league. They are currently tied with each other for second in the league in plus-minus, registering a staggering +33 rating.

The franchise record for highest plus-minus in a season is +16, most recently accomplished last season by Haydn Fleury.

11. LEADING THE WAY

With six goals over his last six games, Valentin Zykov continues his reign atop the AHL. The forward has lit the lamp 31 times this season, making him the third Checker to ever hit the 30-goal mark and putting him four ahead of the next-ranked skater – Laval’s Chris Terry.

The franchise record for most goals in a single-season is 36, set by Zach Boychuk in 2013-14.

12. GET THE APP

The Checkers app got a fresh new set of paint during the offseason but functions just the same. Follow along with scoring updates as well as play the Top Line interactive game.

You will also be able to listen to the radio broadcast via the 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.