The Checkers powered through their North Division road trip and came away with wins in two of three contests.

Week in Review

Team Statistics

  • Overall record
    10-11-3
  • Home record
    4-5-1
  • Road record
    6-6-2
  • Last week's record
    2-1-0
  • Last 10 games
    4-5-1
  • Division Standings
    7th
  • Conference Standings
    14th
  • League Standings
    23rd

Checkers 5, Syracuse 1

A strong start propelled the Checkers to another lopsided win in Syracuse, with Julien Gauthier lighting the lamp twice and Jake Bean racking up three helpers to bury the Crunch. Full recap

Rochester 4, Checkers 0

Charlotte’s first visit to Rochester was a tight contest until late in the second period when the Amerks poured in three goals over a three-minute stretch to blow things open. The Checkers couldn’t overcome that avalanche of goals and ended up being shut out for the second time in three games. Full recap

Checkers 3, Rochester 1

The Checkers rebounded nicely the following night, again propelled by an early two-goal lead thanks to a red-hot power play. Anton Forsberg’s 32 saves carried the visitors the rest of the way as they earned themselves a winning road trip. Full recap

Three Stars Of The Week

Bean

3rd Star

Jake Bean

0g, 3a
Forsberg

2nd Star

Anton Forsberg

2-0-0, 1.00 GAA, .961 SV%
Gauthier

1st Star

Julien Gauthier

3g, 0a

FIVE NOTABLES

1) STRONG STARTS

A common theme in both of the Checkers’ wins this week was their strong starts. On both Wednesday in Syracuse and Saturday in Rochester, the Checkers secured two-goal leads in the first period and paved the way for key victories. That has been a good omen for Charlotte this season, as the team is 10-3-1 when scoring the game’s first goal – accounting for each of their wins this season – and 0-8-2 when allowing the first goal.

2) POWERING UP

The Checkers went 4-for-13 on the man advantage over the three games this week, remaining in the top 10 of the league rankings. They notched two power-play goals in each of the wins, the fourth and fifth times they have hit that mark, and have a 4-0-1 record in those contests. The Checkers are also 8-4-3 when they score at least one power-play goal.

3) FORSBERG STANDS TALL

After following his perfect 4-0-0 start with a tough 0-4-2 skid, Anton Forsberg reverted back to his stellar self this week. The netminder won both of his starts while surrendering just a single goal in each, turning aside 49 of the 51 shots he was faced with. Forsberg now accounts for six of the Checkers 10 wins on the season.

4) GOAT GETS GOALS

Julien Gauthier imposed his will offensively during the road trip, lighting the lamp three times over the three games. The forward helped set the tone in both of the team’s wins by opening the game’s scoring, while Wednesday’s victory saw him find the back of the net twice over an 83-second span in the first period. Two of Gauthier’s tallies on the week came on the man advantage, giving him a team-best five power-play goals this season. The third-year pro was rewarded for his strong play with an NHL recall ahead of Carolina’s extended road trip this week.

5) ROAD WARRIORS

The Checkers continued to produce on the road this week, improving to 3-1-1 in their last five contests away from home. They are now 6-6-2 on the road while 4-5-1 on home ice.

RANKS

  • Julien Gauthier is tied for fifth in the AHL in power-play goals (5)
  • Kyle Wood leads all AHL defensemen in shootout goals, shootout percentage and shootout winners

INJURIES

  • Stelio Mattheos - Missed 14 games starting 11/8
  • Kerby Rychel - Missed 4 games starting 12/1
  • Cedric Lacroix - Missed 1 game starting 12/7

Transactions

Incoming

  • 12/7 - Brian Gibbons - Assigned from Carolina (NHL)
  • 12/7 - Clark Bishop - Assigned from Carolina (NHL)

Outgoing

  • 12/8 - Julien Gauthier - Recalled by Carolina (NHL)

Coming Up

Friday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. - Checkers vs. Syracuse

  • Domestic Violence Awareness Night

Saturday, Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. - Checkers vs. Syracuse

Fairfield Inn and Suites

By the Numbers

CATEGORY RECORD AHL RANK LAST WEEK
Power play 20.4% t-8th t-7th
Penalty kill 92.7% 1st 1st
Goals per game 2.50 29th 23rd
Shots per game 30.79 11th 14th
Goals allowed per game 2.88 t-11th 18th
Shots allowed per game 28.67 t-9th 14th
Penalty minutes per game 16.17 2nd 5th


LEADERS

CATEGORY LEADER(S)
Points Jake Bean (14), Morgan Geekie, Roland McKeown (13)
Goals Julien Gauthier (10), Morgan Geekie (6), Eetu Luostarinen, Steven Lorentz (5)
Assists Roland McKeown (12), Jake Bean (10), Brian Gibbons, Chase Priskie (8)
Power play goals Julien Gauthier (5), Morgan Geekie (3), Three tied (2)
Shorthanded goals Eetu Luostarinen, Chase Priskie, Brian Gibbons, Colin Markison (1)
Game-winning goals Morgan Geekie, Julien Gauthier (2), Five tied (1)
Shots on goal Julien Gauthier (64), Morgan Geekie (54), Roland McKeown (49)
Penalty minutes Max McCormick (41), Brian Gibbons (32), Julien Gauthier (26))
Plus/minus Cavan Fitzgerald, Clark Bishop (+4), Fredrik Claesson (+2)
Wins Anton Forsberg (6)
Goals-against average Alex Nedeljkovic (2.61)
Save percentage Alex Nedeljkovic (.904)