AHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers' Point Streak Hits 10 Games with Win in Ontario

Published on January 3, 2016 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


CHARLOTTE, NC - The Checkers' record point streak hit double digits thanks to a 2-0 victory on Sunday that allowed them to sweep a back-to-back, weekend series against the Ontario Reign.

Daniel Altshuller made 25 saves to record the Checkers' first shutout since April of 2014 and improve to 5-0-1 in his AHL career as the team improved to 8-0-2 over the course of its franchise-record, 10-game point stretch that marks the longest active point streak in the AHL.

Zach Boychuk and Sergey Tolchinsky scored power-play goals for the Checkers, which has enjoyed a 3-0-1 start to its California road trip that concludes with a pair of games in San Diego next weekend.

Playing against a team that was responsible for their last two regulation losses on Dec. 5 and 6 at Bojangles' Coliseum and entered the weekend holding the top spot in the Western Conference, the Checkers again capitalized on their first power play of the game to go up 1-0 in the first period. Boychuk did the honors with his fourth goal of the season, depositing a rebound past Reign goalie Peter Budaj.

Tolchinsky added insurance by scoring for the third consecutive game on the tail end of a second-period power play as he collected a drop pass from T.J. Hensick and launched a heavy wrist shot that beat Budaj cleanly.

In addition to streaks extended by the team and Tolchinsky with his goal, Hensick (six games) and defenseman Trevor Carrick, who returned to the lineup after missing three games to represent Team Canada at the Spengler Cup in Switzerland (four games), also kept their personal point streaks going by assisting on Tolchinsky's tally.

Altshuller, the Carolina Hurricanes' third-round draft pick in 2012 who led the ECHL in goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts at the time of his recall from the Florida Everblades last month, was not tested much early but came up huge in the third period, including on one of what has become his trademark highlight-reel stops to deny Derek Army on a two-on-one that developed quickly following a giveaway in the Checkers' zone. Ontario out-shot Charlotte 13-5 in the final frame.

Prior to Altshuller's effort tonight, the Checkers' previous shutout was recorded by John Muse. Coincidentally, Altshuller with this victory passed Muse to record the best six-game start by a goaltender in team history. Muse, who went on to become the franchise's all-time wins leader, went 5-1-0 in his first games with the Checkers during the 2011-12 campaign.

The Checkers could have made any end-of-game drama less compelling by capitalizing on a lengthy two-man advantage near the end of regulation, but the Reign, who had given up two power-play goals on two of their three prior opportunities, held the fort to keep the pressure on and give themselves a chance of spoiling the long-awaited shutout.

With the win, Charlotte split the now-concluded, four-game season series against Ontario at two games apiece, with the road team winning all four. The Checkers have yet to officially face their next opponent, San Diego, though they know certain Anaheim Ducks prospects well from their time in Norfolk as recently as last season.

NOTES

Altshuller was originally scheduled to start Saturday but made way for Rasmus Tirronen after suffering a minor injury during the warm-up period ... Though several teams have recorded point streaks of 10 or more games this season, only four have reached 11. Grand Rapids' 15-game streak, the longest this season, ended Dec. 26 ... The Checkers played without forward Brock McGinn, who joined the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes earlier in the day ... Charlottes' 12 road victories are the second-most in the AHL this season ... Forward Carter Sandlak and goaltender Drew MacIntyre missed the game due to injury ... Defenseman Mike Cornell was a healthy extra.

Check out the Charlotte Checkers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from January 3, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central