The Checkers ended their losing streak on Friday (Feb. 19) against Grand Rapids by a score of 4-2. That would end up being the Checkers only win of the week as they would go on to lose on Saturday (Feb. 20) to Grand Rapids 5-2 and also on Sunday (Feb. 21) to Chicago by a score of 3-2.
Three stars of the week
Patrick Brown played himself into the three stars with one of his best weeks of the season playing solid hockey on the third line. Brown tallied three points in the Checkers’ three games. He had a nice looking breakaway goal to send the game into overtime on Sunday night. Sergey Tolchnisky also had a nice looking breakaway goal on Sunday night. He had two points this week and the fight in his game cannot be measured for this team. Every game the Checkers played this week Tolchinsky was a little pest in the other team’s defensive zone. He was constantly fore-checking and keeping the pressure on the other team as they broke out. Ethan Werek showed back up again this week and against a familiar opponent. Werek scored his fourth and fifth goals of the season against Grand Rapids on Friday and Saturday night.
Who’s Hot
Trevor Carrick is starting to look like he did earlier in the season. He tallied four assists while manning the blue line, and he looked more confident than he has the past few games while carrying the puck up on breakouts. T.J. Hensick gave his coach solid minutes on the second line and was able to add an assist onto his point total. Hensick was also the only Checker to score in the team’s shootout on Sunday.
Who’s Not
This one will come as a surprise to some people but, the Checkers captain Derek Ryan finds himself here. As of January 7, 2016 Derek Ryan had twenty-eight points in twenty-nine games and was fourth in the league in scoring. Since then he has on put up eleven points and the Checkers have played twenty-four games. Ryan still has had great season for the Checkers so far. He is just not scoring at scoring at an almost point per game pace like he was before. That could be contributing to the Checkers recent struggles.
Injury and roster notes
Ryan Murphy missed Friday’s game for a personal issue. Erik Karlsson and Carter Sandlak were both healthy extras. Danny Biega and Drew MacIntyre missed al three games due to injury. The Hurricanes sent back down goalie Daniel Altshuller on Saturday (Feb. 20).
Forward lines as of now
First line: Zach Boychuk-Derek Ryan-Justin Shugg
Second line: Brock McGinn-Ethan Werek-T.J. Hensick
Third line: Brendan Woods-Brody Sutter-Patrick Brown
Fourth line: Kyle Hagel-Erik Karlsson-Sergey Tolchinsky
Defensive lines as of now
First pairing: Rasmus Rissanen-Mike Cornell
Second pairing: Trevor Carrick-Keegan Lowe
Third pairing: Jake Chelios-Ryan Murphy
