Checkers Check-In (December 7)
Photo: thehockeynews.com
It’s time to check in on our Charlotte Checkers again and preview the upcoming week. Last weekend the Checkers were on the road in Providence and Hartford taking on the Bruins on Friday and Sunday, and the Wolf Pack on Saturday. The Checkers have been rolling this season and haven’t racked up too many results in the loss column. But the Checkers dropped the first two games on last weekend’s roadtrip, marking the first time all season the Checkers have lost back-to-back games in regulation. They managed to salvage the roadtrip, though, and come away with two points with an overtime victory against the Bruins on Sunday afternoon.
With a 2-1 loss last Friday to the Providence Bruins, the Checkers three-game win streak was snapped. They found themselves in a tough spot, starting out the roadtrip with a loss, and having to travel to another city after the game, just to travel back to Providence for Sunday’s game. Three different Checkers players scored a goal on Saturday, but it wasn’t enough as the Wolf Pack found the back of the net five times in Hartford. Charlotte, trying to maintain its AHL point lead, really needed to get back on track Sunday. Center Andrew Poturalski, who scored the Checkers’ only goal against the Bruins on Friday, answered the call and sent an overtime blast past goalie Zane McIntyre for a 3-2 win and two more for the points column.
Fresh off a roadtrip to the Northeast, the Checkers will make the trek back to Hartford to take on the Wolf Pack again tonight and the Thunderbirds of Springfield tomorrow night. They will be looking to get revenge on the Wolf Pack from last weekend and will be meeting the Thunderbirds for the first time this season. The Checkers still lead the AHL in points, with 35 on the season, while on top of the Atlantic Division. The Thunderbirds are 8 points back from the Checkers and the Wolf Pack are 10. This is a great opportunity to increase this lead on divisional opponents before coming back home to Charlotte for the following two weeks. Let’s go Checkers!
Garett