Weekly Report: February 1, 2016

The previously red-hot Checkers fell back to Earth last week, limping into the All-Star break with a tough winless week.

The team will enjoy a short break to try to regroup before hitting the ice Friday to kick off a busy two weeks ahead.

Week in Review

Rockford 3, Checkers 1

The Checkers' entered the contest as one of the best teams on the road, having not lost a game away from home in regulation since before Thanksgiving, and had a chance to overtake the division lead with a win over the first place IceHogs. The two squads exchanged goals in the first to head to the second tied at one, but the Checkers couldn't solve Michael Leighton for the rest of the game. Rockford took the lead late in the second and then added an insurance marker quickly in the third to clinch the win and extend their division lead. Full recap

Iowa 5, Checkers 4 (OT)

The Checkers looked to get back on track two nights later when they visited the Iowa Wild, a team that they have dominated over the years. The visitors jumped ahead 3-1 early in the second, but the Wild erased the lead with a pair of strikes to send the game to the third tied at three. The Checkers got the go-ahead goal with 93 seconds left in regulation from Brendan Woods and looked like they would escape with the win, but Cristoph Bertschy struck with under a minute to go to complete his hat trick and send the game to overtime. The teams traded chances in the extra frame, but it was Grayson Downing who tipped in the game-winner and secured the two points for Iowa. Full recap

Iowa 5, Checkers 1

Things completely broke down for the Checkers in the next day's rematch. After the two teams traded goals in the first to emerge tied at one, the Wild expolded for four unanswered markers to blow out the Checkers 5-1, matching the worst deficit the Checkers have seen this season and giving Charlotte its first regulation loss to Iowa since Dec. 8, 2014. Both goalies saw action, as starter Drew MacIntyre was pulled after allowing three goals in the first. Daniel Altshuller gave up two of his own, then exited the game himself after skating down the ice to drop the gloves with Iowa goalie Steven Michalek, prompting MacIntyre to finish the contest. Full recap

Three Stars Of The Week

Notables

Rough Patch

The Checkers have been one of the hottest teams in the AHL over the last few months, but they ended January on a sour note. Charlotte is currently on a three-game winless streak, matching their longest so far this season. The last time they dropped three consecutive games was from Nov. 13-20.

The good news for the Checkers is that they followed up their last three-game winless streak by winning four of their next five contests, shortly followed by them rattling off their franchise-record point streak.

Winter Warriors

Despite the rough ending, the Checkers finished December and January with a 14-5-2-2 record (.696 points percentage), the best mark in those two months in franchise history. It also marked the first time that the team has finished consecutive months with records over .500 since December and January 2013-14.

Hey Now, You're An All Star

Trevor Carrick and Derek Ryan will take part in the 2016 AHL ALL-Star Classic tonight in Syracuse, becoming the seventh and eighth Checkers to be selected to the game.

Both players also participated in the Skills Competition last night. Ryan finished third in the Fastest Skater, while Carrick finished sixth in Hardest Shot. But both helped their Western Conference squad to an overall win over the Eastern Conference.

Tonight’s AHL All-Star Classic can be watched for free on AHL Live.

Woods Finding Twine

With five points in his last five games, Brendan Woods has seen his offensive attack sparked. His seven goals in 34 games puts him on pace to surpass his season high, set last year.

Rissanen Ramping Up Production

It might be overshadowed by some of the flashiness on the blue line, but Rasmus Rissanen is quietly having a career year. With assists in each of his last two games, the fifth-year pro has already set a new career high in points (12) through just 33 games. He has also matched his career high in assists (10) and is one shy of his mark for goals.

Ryan Looking To Reignite

Team captain and leading scorer Derek Ryan began the season on a ridiculous tear, not going consecutive games without scoring until the end of December. But the forward has hit a bit of a slump heading into the All-Star break. Ryan has one goal and one assist in his last nine games and has fallen out of the top-20 scorers in the AHL.

Still, Ryan remains one of the Checkers’ most lethal weapons offensively and will be looking to get back on track after representing the team at the 2016 AHL All-Star Classic tonight.

Ranks

• Kyle Hagel is tied for third in the AHL in major penalties (10)
• Zach Boychuk is tied for fifth in the AHL in shots on goal (123)
• Trevor Carrick ranks fifth among AHL defensemen in scoring (28), is tied for third in goals (9) and tied for fifth in power-play points (14)
• Jake Chelios is tied for 14th among AHL defensemen in scoring (24)
• Mike Cornell is tied for fourth among AHL defensemen in major penalties (8)

Injuries

• Danny Biega missed 11 games starting 1/8
• Justin Shugg missed three games starting 1/27
• Zach Boychuk missed one game starting 1/30
• Ethan Werek missed on game starting 1/30

Milestones

• Jake Chelios played his 100th pro game on Jan. 30 at IA

Transactions

Incoming

• January 26 - (G) Daniel Altshuller assigned to Charlotte

Outgoing

January 31 - (LW) Phil Di Giuseppe recalled by Carolina (NHL)
• January 31 - (D) Ryan Murphy recalled by Carolina (NHL)
• January 26 - (LW) Carter Sandlak assigned to Florida (ECHL)
• January 26 - (G) Rasmus Tirronen assigned to Florida (ECHL)

Coming Up

By the Numbers

Team Statistics
CATEGORY	RECORD	AHL RANK	LAST WEEK
Power play	22.7%	2nd	3rd
Penalty kill	83.8%	t-14th	t-13th
Goals per game	3.14	5th	4th
Shots per game	30.58	10th	9th
Goals allowed per game	3.00	t-19th	t-14th
Shots allowed per game	29.51	t-14th	9th
Penalty minutes per game	14.93	19th	18th

Team Leaders
CATEGORY	LEADER(S)
Points	Derek Ryan (34), Trevor Carrick (28), Brock McGinn, Jake Chelios (24)
Goals	Derek Ryan (13), Brock McGinn (12), Zach Boychuk, Trevor Carrick (9)
Assists	Derek Ryan (21), Trevor Carrick, Jake Chelios (19)
Power play goals	Zach Boychuk (6), Three tied (4)
Shorthanded goals	Patrick Brown, David Wohlberg, Brody Sutter (1)
Game-winning goals	Derek Ryan, Zach Boychuk (3), Brock McGinn, Brody Sutter (2)
Shots on goal	Zach Boychuk (123), Trevor Carrick (99), Derek Ryan (91)
Penalty minutes	Kyle Hagel (88), Mike Cornell (70), David Wohlberg (45))
Plus/minus	Danny Biega, Brendan Woods, Ethan Werek (+5)
Wins	Drew MacIntyre (10)
Goals-against average	Daniel Altshuller (2.17)
Save percentage	Daniel Altshuller (.929)