You can look at that routine in two ways.
“It shows that we respond,” said head coach Ryan Warsofsky. “I guess that’s the positive. The negative is that we’re still .500.”
So what has been the difference between the drastically different results each series?
“I think our urgency, our desperation, our pace, our focus,” said Warsofsky. “As much as this game is physical, it’s mental too.”
The tale of two teams was most evident this past weekend when the Checkers suffered through an 8-2 throttling at the hands of Utica on Friday before dusting themselves off and turning in a similarly dominant performance of their own the next night in a 7-3 beatdown of Syracuse.
“We had a meeting Saturday morning and you could tell after that meeting the guys were focused and knew that they had to be better,” said Warsofsky. “We were focused from puck drop on Saturday. That was a positive. We have to continue that and take another step in the right direction on Friday.”
This weekend presents another opportunity for the Checkers to string together a pair of wins. Although they’ll face a tough opponent in Lehigh Valley, Saturday’s performance was strong enough to indicate what this team is capable of.
“We were a different team Saturday in Syracuse,” said Warsofsky. “We have to be that team again on Friday and then every game after that.”
ROCKY START
Along with their inconsistencies as a whole, the Checkers’ star netminder has been slow out of the gates this season. After turning in the franchise’s best campaign between the pipes last season and earning the AHL’s Most Outstanding Goalie distinction, Alex Nedeljkovic has lost each of his first three starts this season – dropping consecutive games for the first time since January 2018 – and given up at least three goals in each appearance.Struggles aside, one tough stretch of outings is hardly enough to outweigh all that Nedeljkovic has done to solidify himself as one of the top goalies in the league.
“He’s going to be fine, he’s a great goaltender,” said Warsofsky. “He’s obviously won in the past and he’s going to win again. He’s just going through a little funk right now, everyone goes through it.”
Nedeljkovic has spent the week working with Warsofsky and goalie coach Paul Schonfelder to get himself back on the right track.
“I think Ned will tell you too, he’s trying to win the game in the first period and steal the game for us instead of being loose and being himself,” said Warsofsky.
Anyone who has watched the Checkers over the last few years know the caliber of player Nedeljkovic can be, and there’s no doubt in the coaching staff’s heads that he’ll be back there soon.
“It’s a speedbump but he’s going to work through it,” said Warsofsky. “I know the character that he’s got. I’m not concerned.”
FINN ON FIRE
Eetu Luostarinen appears to be the latest in a string of European forwards that have broken out for the Checkers. The 21-year-old Finn is tied for the team goals lead and tied for seventh in the league after lighting the lamp in each of his last four games.“He’s probably been the one forward who’s gotten better every game,” said Warsofsky. “He’s gotten used to the size of the rink and how we play this system. It’s a little bit different than how he played in Finland but he’s a quick learner.”
A second-round pick by Carolina in 2017, Luostarinen has been contributing in all facets of Charlotte’s offense. In fact, he’s one of just five players in the AHL that has recorded an even-strength goal, a power-play goal and a shorthanded goal already this season.
“He’s not afraid of contact and goes to those dirty areas and that’s why he’s getting those goals,” said Warsofsky. “He’s been really good.”
THEY'VE GOT THE POWER
One of the most consistent bright spots during Charlotte’s up-and-down start has been the power play. The Checkers have the third-ranked unit in the AHL, operating at a 26.9 percent clip, and have notched at least one power-play goal in each of their three wins.Coach Warsofsky points to the personnel as the driving force between his early power-play success.
Geeks [Morgan Geekie] is really good on the flank with that shot,” he said. “Lorentz is a big body, then there’s Gauthier, we want to just get the puck in his hands.”
The absence of Jake Bean in Saturday’s game due to injury (Warsofsky deemed the blueliner day-to-day after Wednesday’s practice) led to a new addition taking a new slot in the unit.
“With Beaner out we moved some guys around,” said Warsofsky. “We tried Priskie out up top just to see what he could do and he had two good shots, one for the tip and one for the goal. He really helped us move pucks up there.”
Priskie responded with a stellar output in Saturday’s game, notching four points overall, including a pair of helpers on the man advantage. That outburst is just half of the equation with the impressive rookie, though.
“His offensive ability is just going to come, he’s a natural at that,” said Warofsky. “We’re worried about the other side of the puck and what he’s doing in our end. He’s doing some things that we’ve asked him that he’s never done before, and he’s doing better with it. He’s a quick learner and he’s going up the ladder. He’s getting used to the speed and the size. He’s definitely improved since games one so that’s a positive, and we’re going to keep working with him through the week here.”