Bojangles Game Preview: January 31 vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
January 31, 2025 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
Before the Checkers take the ice this season, we're breaking down everything fans need to know with the Bojangles Game Preview!
The Checkers are back on home ice for a quick two-game set before the All-Star break, looking to keep their positive momentum from the road rolling.
THE MATCHUP
Record/Standings
CLT - 23-12-3-2 (3rd Atlantic)
WBS - 23-10-4-0 (4th Atlantic)
Power Play / Penalty Kill
CLT - 25.6% (1st) / 86.7% (2nd)
WBS - 25.0% (2nd) / 84.8% (t-6th)
Offense / Defense
CLT - 3.40 GF/Game (6th) / 2.80 GA/Game (t-9th)
WBS - 3.54 GF/Game (3rd) / 2.65 GA/Game (6th)
Head-To-Head
3-1-0-0
THE STORYLINES
BUILDING MOMENTUM
The Checkers have been enduring their toughest stretch of the season in terms of results, holding a 4-4-2-0 record over the last 10 games. On the positive side, though, the Checkers enter the weekend having won three of their last four and each of their last two - the first time the team has notched consecutive wins since Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.
They'll look to keep things going against a Penguins squad that clocks in as one of the division's hottest squads and is fresh off a 9-0 shellacking of Hershey on Wednesday.
A MAGIC NUMBER
Over the last 10 games, offensive production has been paramount to Charlotte's success. In fact, the team's four wins over that stretch came in the games where they scored four goals, while falling below that mark resulted in either a regulation or overtime loss.
After reigning atop the league for much of the season to this point, the Checkers now clock in at sixth in the AHL's offensive rankings - falling below the Penguins at number three.
VERY SPECIAL TEAMS
The Checkers have excelled on both sides of special teams thus far this season, ranking first in the league on the power play and second on the penalty kill. Those high marks make them the only team to slot in the top five in both categories.
NEW ADDITION
Checkers fans will get their first in-person glimpse of the newest Checker this weekend in C.J. Smith. After playing nine games in the KHL to begin the year, Smith signed an AHL deal with Charlotte earlier this month and has appeared in two games - notching a helper in each contest.
THE INFO
Friday is Bankers Night presented by First National Bank! Fans can get a blue button-down dress shirt at the merch stand or online.
Saturday's game is Pickleball Night presented by Eastway Regional Recreation Center! Fans can get a game ticket and a limited edition Volair PRO model Checkers pickleball paddle while supplies last.
If you can't make it to the Coliseum for some reason, this weekend's games - along with every game this season - are available via the new AHLTV on FloHockey!
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American Hockey League Stories from January 31, 2025
- Reign Edge Roadrunners, 2-1 - Ontario Reign
- Meyers' Overtime Goal Seals Win Over Stars - Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Moose Edge Admirals - Manitoba Moose
- Amerks Close Out January With 4-1 Win Over Crunch - Rochester Americans
- Stars Earn Overtime Point in Front of Record Sellout Crowd - Texas Stars
- Bears Edge Islanders, 5-4 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Springfield Defeats Iowa 4-1 - Iowa Wild
- Griffins Shut Out Against Colorado - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Wolves Take Down IceHogs 3-2 - Chicago Wolves
- IceHogs Can't Keep Pace with Wolves, Fall 3-2 - Rockford IceHogs
- T-Birds Cap Fruitful January with Definitive Win in Iowa - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Checkers Top Penguins 3-2 for Third Straight Win - Charlotte Checkers
- Monsters Drop First Game of Lumberjacks Weekend to Bruins 4-2 - Cleveland Monsters
- Penguins Lose Narrow, 3-2 Game in Charlotte - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Checkers Take Down Penguins 3-2 - Charlotte Checkers
- Miroshnichenko Scores Three as Bears Top Islanders, 5-4 - Hershey Bears
- Sinclair Shines, But Sens Stymied in 37-Shot Shutout Loss in Utica - Belleville Senators
- Wolf Pack Battle But Drop Fifth Straight to Rocket, 3-1 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Syracuse Crunch Fall to Rochester Americans, 4-1 - Syracuse Crunch
- Brown Bolsters P-Bruins to Victory Over Monsters - Providence Bruins
- Scheel's 29-Save Shutout Leads Colorado to 2-0 Blanking of Griffins - Colorado Eagles
- Poulter Perfect, Comets Beat Senators 1-0 - Utica Comets
- Game Day Preview - CGY at ABB - Calgary Wranglers
- Nyman Added to 2025 AHL All-Star Rosters Presented by FloHockey; Sutter to Coach Pacific Division - AHL
- Tampa Bay Lightning Reassign Forward Gage Goncalves, Goaltender Matt Tomkins to Syracuse Crunch - Syracuse Crunch
- Abbotsford Canucks to Celebrate Lunar New Year on February 1st - Abbotsford Canucks
- Blues Sign D Corey Schueneman to One-Year Extension - Springfield Thunderbirds
- San Diego Gulls Loan Rodwin Dionicio to EHC Biel-Bienne - San Diego Gulls
- Syracuse Crunch Loan Defenseman Chris Harpur to Orlando Solar Bears - Syracuse Crunch
- Gulls' Dionicio Suspended for Three Games - AHL
- Wolf Pack Open Back-To-Back Set vs. Rocket at Place Bell - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Bojangles Game Preview: January 31 vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - Charlotte Checkers
- Game Preview: Bears vs. Islanders, 7 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Tampa Bay Lightning Reassign Defenseman Declan Carlile to Syracuse Crunch - Syracuse Crunch
- Game #40 Preview: Tucson Roadrunners (19-18-2-0) vs Ontario Reign (24-14-1-1) - Tucson Roadrunners
- Weekend Preview: Islanders at Bears - Bridgeport Islanders
- IceHogs and Wolves Meet for Friday Night Battle - Rockford IceHogs
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