The Checkers are capping off their first home stand of the season by welcoming the Springfield Thunderbirds to town for a divisional matchup.
THE MATCHUP
- Record/Standings
- CLT - 4-2-0-0 (2nd in Atlantic)
- SPR - 2-2-1-1 (6th in Atlantic)
- Power Play / Penalty Kill
- CLT - 17.6% (19th) / 91.3% (2nd)
- SPR - 14.3% (24th) / 86.7% (10th)
- Offense / Defense
- CLT - 2.83 GF/Game (19th) / 2.50 GA/Game (t-9th)
- SPR - 2.17 GF/Game (28th) / 3.00 GA/Game (t-15th)
- Head-To-Head
- 1-0-0-0
THE STORYLINES
PROTECT THIS HOUSE
The Checkers kicked off the home portion of their schedule last week with back-to-back wins over the Hartford Wolf Pack - the first courtesy of a late shorthanded strike from Hunter St. Martin and the second thanks to a surge in the back half of the contest.Last season the Checkers finished with a 20-14-2-0 mark on home ice, the fourth best such record in the Atlantic Division.
LOCKDOWN
The Checkers roll into this weekend on a three-game winning streak, and the backbone of that run has been their defensive play. Charlotte has allowed four total goals over those victories, and no more than two in a single game. Backstopping two of those contests was Kirill Gerasimyuk, who the team will likely turn to again with Cooper Black currently in the NHL. Gerasimyuk is 2-0-0 this season and ranks second in the AHL in both goals-against average (0.96) and save percentage (.963).NATE THE GREAT
Nate Bastian has been a key driver for Charlotte’s offense early on this season. The 10th year pro leads the team with five points (1g, 4a) and has found the scoresheet in three of the four games he has played since joining the squad.THE PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Charlotte
- Nate Bastian - Three points in last two games
- Angus Crookshank - Two points in last game
- Gracyn Sawchyn - Two points in last two games
- Springfield
- T.J. Tynan - Two points in last two games
- Marc-Andre Gaudet - Two points in the last two games
- Calle Rosen - Tow points in last game
THE INFO
We're throwing a party for Oktoberfest on Friday, then following it up with a throwback 90s Night on Saturday! Tickets for both games are available here.Fans can also bid on a new set of signed Friday Night Jerseys and a whole slew of 90s Night items here!
Both of this weekend's games are also available to stream via AHLTV on FloHockey! Click here to watch.
Fans can listen to the radio broadcast as well on the Checkers App or online.
