The Checkers are entering into the final and most crucial stretch of their season. If the Checkers play above .500 hockey for the final twenty-four games, they should be in good position for one of the final playoff spots in the Western Conference. They started the push to the playoffs this week, first losing a rough game to Grand Rapids on Friday (Mar. 4) by a score of 4-0. They would then go on to lose 2-1 to Grand Rapids on Saturday (Mar. 5), but the team rebounded and came back strong on Tuesday night (Mar. 8) against Chicago, winning 3-2 in a shootout.
Three stars of the week
Brody Sutter made his presence on the ice felt Tuesday night against Chicago. He started the scoring for the Checkers on a hard-working rebound goal, where he muscled his way past a Wolves defenseman to hit in the rebound off a shot from the top of the face-off circle. Sutter would also score the goal in the shootout to secure the game for the Checkers. Newly-acquired Anthony Camara let everyone knew he had arrived and is here to play in his second game with the Checkers. Camara made an impressive deke on a two on one that lead to a Keegan Lowe, tap-in goal on Saturday night. Another new acquisition but familiar face John Muse came in and gave the Checkers goaltending like they have not seen since Daniel Altshuller was leading the charge on the teams twelve-game point streak. Muse came in relief for relief duty on Friday night after Altshuler had been shelled for four goals in the first two periods of play. He played well enough to earn the start on Saturday night and has not looked back since. The Checkers hope he can continue the solid play he displayed in the seven periods he has appeared in for the rest of the season or at least until Daniel Altshuller can get out if his funk.
Who’s Hot
In Andrew Miller’s Checkers debut, he did anything but disappoint. The team’s new high scoring forward tipped in his first goal as a Checker during the third period of Tuesday nights game. Miller has almost been a point per game player for most of his AHL career so look for him to score and put up points on a consistent basis if he is able to get into the flow of the team. Sergey Tolchinsky didn’t stand out by a huge amount each game but he did play solid, and he was able to tally another assist this week. Tolchinsky has broken out of the slump that had been affecting his numbers in a big way. He now has moved up to fifth on the team in points with twenty-six. He is only two points away from having more points than Brock McGinn did in his debut season with the Checkers.
Who’s Not
Daniel Altshuller is not the same goaltender he was in late December and early January. He looks that he has lost the confidence he gained from the run the team made during that time period. Altshuller just plain and simple looks a little lost in between the pipes right now. Maybe the recent solid play of John Muse will provide a little bit of a shock and wake him up for the team’s postseason fight.
Injury and roster notes
Valentin Zykov and Danny Biega missed all three games due to injury. Rasmus Rissanen missed Tuesday night’s game due to injury. Dane Fox and Erik Karlsson were both healthy extras on Tuesday night. The Hurricanes assigned Derek Ryan and Brock McGinn to Charlotte on Sunday (Mar. 6). The Checkers loaned the Bakersfield Condors Zach Boychuk in exchange for Andrew Miller on Monday (Mar. 7). The Checkers loaned T.J. Hensick to Utica in exchange for Blair Jones on Monday (Mar. 7). The Hurricanes assigned Dane Fox to Charlotte on Monday (Mar. 7). The Hurricanes recalled Brendan Woods from Charlotte on Sunday (Mar. 6). The Checkers signed Andrew Poturalski from the University of New Hampshire to an amateur tryout contract on Tuesday (Mar. 8).
Forward lines as of now
First line: Brock McGinn-Derek Ryan-Justin Shugg
Second line: Ethan Werek-Andrew Miller-Sergey Tolchinsky
Third line: Anthony Camara-Blair Jones-Brody Sutter
Fourth line: Kyle Hagel-David Wohlberg-Patrick Brown
Defensive pairings as of now
First pairing: Trevor Carrick-Dennis Robertson
Second pairing: Keegan Lowe-Mike Cornell
Third pairing: Jake Chelios-Tyler Ganly
