Game Preview: Checkers vs. Milwaukee (Dec. 1, 2013)

The Checkers look to win two games in a row for the first time in nearly two months as they complete a weekend set against the Milwaukee Admirals this afternoon.

On Saturday night, Charlotte began a 10-game home stand with a 4-1 victory in its first meeting with the Admirals this season, giving it two wins in its last three home games after starting the season winless in six outings at Time Warner Cable Arena. Another victory tonight would mark just the second time they've won two games in a row this season, the first being a pair of triumphs in Oklahoma City on the season's first weekend.

Following tonight's game, the franchise-record-tying run of home games continues with a pair of match-ups against the Rockford IceHogs on Thursday and Saturday.

Charlotte

Four of the Checkers’ top offensive players – Chris Terry, Zach Boychuk, Justin Shugg and Aaron Palushaj – scored the team’s goals on Saturday, responding to a challenge issues by coach Jeff Daniels prior to the game.

“He said your best players have to be your best players out there, and against Norfolk their best players outplayed us,” said Terry, referring to a 5-2 defeat on Wednesday in which recent NHL returnees Emerson Etem and Devante Smith-Pelly recorded three points apiece. “Tonight we had to rebound and make sure we were the best players and lead by example.”

“It showed their character and their leadership for stepping up,” said Daniels.

Terry and Boychuk, who each had a goal and an assist, and Brett Sutter (two assists) were the team’s offensive leaders on Saturday. Terry has goals in back-to-back games, giving him a team-leading eight on the season despite missing six games while on NHL duty with the Carolina Hurricanes, while Boychuk now has a two-point lead over Palushaj on the Checkers’ overall scoring list with 16 points (6g, 10a) in 20 games.

The game marked the fifth time that Charlotte has scored four or more goals this season, with all five games resulting in victories.

John Muse, who has received the bulk of the team’s starts over the last month and change, made 27 saves on Saturday but could step aside for Rob Madore given the short turnaround for today’s game. Madore, who posted a 5-3-0 record, 1.83 goals-against average, .951 save percentage and two shutouts en route to becoming the team’s playoff starter last season, rejoined the team on a pro tryout contract on Tuesday and has yet to make his AHL season debut.

On the injury front, Daniels said that Sean Dolan, who left Saturday’s game in the first period, will “miss some time,” including tonight’s game, with Brendan Woods likely stepping in. Defenseman Michal Jordan and goaltender Mike Murphy will remain out.

Milwaukee

The Admirals will also enter tonight's game looking to put a tough month of November behind them after a strong start, with Saturday's loss giving them just three wins in their last 11 games. A league-high five overtime/shootout losses has helped them to stay in playoff position (sixth in the Western Conference) despite having the fewest wins (9) of any team above the cutoff line in either conference.

A team perennially known for its defense, the Admirals have struggled to score goals lately, with Saturday's one-goal outing giving them just four in their last four games. Their lone goal on Saturday came with the Checkers already up 3-0 midway through the third period, as Miikka Salomaki's shot entered and exited the net behind Muse so quickly that officials needed to use video review to confirm that it counted.

Salomaki's goal gave him sole possession of second place on the team's scoring chart with 13 points (4g, 9a) in 18 games, one behind fellow rookie Colton Sissons (14 points).

The Admirals will also have a decision to make in goal. Magnus Hellberg, who made 30 saves on Saturday, has played in 13 of the team's 19 games, including five straight starts. Scott Darling, who signed a tryout contract with the Checkers as an emergency backup two seasons ago but did not play, earned a 32-save shutout in his last start on Nov. 16.

Forward Michael Liambas, who leads the team with 48 penalty minutes, was public enemy No. 1 on Saturday as he fought Matthew Corrente in the first period and set off a wild incident in the second with a charge against Nicolas Blanchard. Twenty-six total penalty minutes resulted from the latter play, including a 10-minute game misconduct to Blanchard, who quickly rose to his feet to confront Liambas just seconds after Matt Marquardt had already engaged him.

Checkers Notes

Home Again

The Checkers' current 10-game home stand ties the longest in franchise history, a record originally set from Nov. 25-Dec. 15 of last season. The Checkers began that home stand with five consecutive losses, which stood as a franchise record for longest home and overall losing streaks until the team topped those marks with an overall losing streak of seven games and a home losing streak of six games this season.

Dating back to Nov. 7, the Checkers are in the midst of a stretch in which they play 16 of 19 games at Time Warner Cable Arena. After starting the season 0-6-0 on home ice, the Checkers have won two of three in their own building.

Floodgates Open

After scoring five goals in his first six games this season, defenseman Mark Flood broke a 10-game drought with goals in back-to-back games against Rockford last weekend. His seven goals rank second on the team behind Chris Terry's eight and are good for second among all AHL defensemen, while his four power-play goals are tied for second among league blueliners.

Flood, who scored one goal in 52 games in the Russian KHL last season, is already closing in on his AHL career high of 11 set in 63 games with Manitoba in the 2010-11 campaign.

Goalies Galore

Should Rob Madore, who signed a professional tryout contract with the Checkers on Tuesday, get into the lineup, he would become the seventh goaltender used by the Checkers this season. The team's current total of six, which was achieved in just eight games, is already a franchise record and ties it with Oklahoma City for most used by an AHL team this season.

Goaltenders to play at least one game for the Checkers this season are Justin Peters, Mike Murphy, Jesse Deckert, John Muse, Allen York and Rick DiPietro.

Welcome to the Club

Forward Philippe Cornet, a former AHL All-Star acquried via trade with San Antonio on Nov. 22, has recorded four points (1g, 3a) in his first four games as a Checker. Cornet, who was playing with ECHL Cincinnati at the time of the trade, now has 98 points (47g, 51a) in 185 career AHL games with Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Charlotte - all members of the current West Division.

Killers Turning Corner?

Though the Checkers rank 27th in the AHL with a 77.8 percent success rate on the penalty kill, they have held opponents off the board in three of their last four games (12 for 14: 85.7 percent). Prior to that stretch, they had prevented power play goals in only four of their previous 16 games.

Against Milwaukee

In 17 previous meetings between Charlotte and Milwaukee, the Checkers have a record of 8-8-1, including one win in one attempt this season. Charlotte has yet to win a season series with the Admirals on two previous attempts, having gone 4-4-0 in 2011-12 and 3-4-1 last season. The teams will play each other just four times this season, down from eight in each of the Checkers' first two campaigns in the Western Conference.

Divided Division

In 20 games, the Checkers have played against their own division, the West, just three times (2-1-0) and will not play another game against a West team until hosting San Antonio on Dec. 10. No other AHL team has played fewer games within its own division.

Month to Forget

Although the Checkers closed November on a high note, their 2-9-0 record made it the least successful month in team history in terms of victories and points earned. Prior to this season, November had historically been the team's best month with a combined record of 24-8-4 over the last three seasons. They had never lost more than three games during the month.

Quick Hits

• All seven of the Checkers' victories this season have come when scoring the game's first goal, but their .536 winning percentage in that scenario (7-6-1) is the third-lowest in the AHL
• The Checkers have scored three or more goals in all seven of their victories this season
• Matt Corrente ranks tied for third among all AHL defensemen with five major penalties
• Charlotte has both scored (21) and allowed (27) more goals in the third period than in any other period
• The Checkers' one overtime game is tied with Iowa for the fewest in the league
• Charlotte is one of three teams that have yet to score a shorthanded goal

Player Streaks

• Chris Terry has goals and points in each of his last two games (Nov. 27-30: 2g, 1a)
• Aaron Palushaj has points in each of his last two games (Nov. 27-30: 1g, 1a)

Milestones

• Philippe Cornet is two points away from 100 AHL points
• Nicolas Blanchard is 2 goals away from 25 Checkers goals
• Brett Sutter played his 200th game with the Checkers on Nov. 27

Transactions

Incoming

• Nov. 26 - (G) Rob Madore signed to professional tryout contract

Outgoing

• Nov. 26 - (G) Rick DiPietro released from professional tryout contract