Weekly Report: Billy's Big Week, Avoiding a Skid and More
January 24, 2022 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
The Checkers faced a grueling stretch of games on home ice over the last week, seeing an up-and-down slate of results.
Week in Review
Team Statistics
Overall record 19-15-2-0
Home record 10-8-2-0
Road record 9-7-0-0
Last week's record 2-2-0-0
Last 10 games 6-4-0-0
Division Standings 5th
Conference Standings 9th
League Standings 16th
Checkers 2, Springfield 4
After a back-and-forth battle left the Checkers with a 2-1 advantage early in the third period, the Thunderbirds came roaring back with three unanswered tallies to hand Charlotte a tough defeat on home ice.
Checkers 4, Springfield 2
It was the Checkers who rattled off a string of goals in the rematch against Springfield, erasing an early deficit with four unanswered tallies to avenge themselves with a 4-2 victory.
Checkers 4, Phantoms 1
The Charlotte offense kept rolling in Saturday's tilt against the Phantoms, racking up four goals in the third period alone to claim a lopsided 4-1 win as North Carolina native Billy Christopoulos made 28 saves to earn his second straight victory.
Checkers 2, Phantoms 5
Despite jumping out to a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes of play, the Checkers ran out of gas in their home-stand finale against the Phantoms, as the visitors piled on four straight goals from there to sink the Checkers 5-2.
Three Stars Of The Week
3rd Star
Chase Priskie
0g, 3a
2nd Star
Billy Christopoulos
2-1-0, 2.36 GAA, .922 SV%
1st Star
Max McCormick
2g, 3a
NOTABLES
WELCOME BACK MAX
Max McCormick rejoined the Checkers earlier this week after his most recent NHL stint and immediately made a positive impact. The forward put up five points (2g, 3a) over the last three games, running his current AHL point streak to four games. McCormick has been a near point-per-game player while wearing a Charlotte sweater this season, standing with 15 points (8g, 7a) in 18 games.
BILLY'S BIG WEEK
After signing a PTO with the Checkers, North Carolina native Billy Christopoulos became the second Charlotte goalie this season to start three consecutive games, and joins Joey Daccord as the only Charlotte netminders to earn wins in back-to-back games.
SHORTHANDED SUCCESS
The Checkers have racked up three shorthanded goals over their last three games. Two came in Thursday's win over Springfield, marking the second time this season that the Checkers have scored two shorthanded goals in a single game. Charlotte is currently tied for the league lead with eight shorthanded goals this season.
THE CAPTAIN COMES UP BIG
Zac Dalpe continues to fill up the net, claiming the team goals lead with 13 markers thus far this season. The veteran forward has logged seven goals over the last 10 games - including two two-goal efforts in the last six contests - and is tied for sixth in the AHL with six power-play tallies.
AVOIDING THE SKID
The Checkers have remained above the .500 mark since the start of January, going 11-6-0-0 over that stretch. Earlier in the home stand they dropped back-to-back games for the fourth time this season and the first time since Nov. 27 and 28, but the Checkers have not registered more than two regulation losses in a row at all this season.
RANKS
Cole Schwindt is tied for fourth in the AHL and leads all rookies in plus-minus (+16)
Kole Lind is tied for sixth in the AHL in penalty minutes (68)
Zac Dalpe is tied for sixth in the AHL in power-play goals (6)
Max McCormick is tied for eighth in the AHL in game-winning goals (3)
Logan Hutsko is tied for 10th among AHL rookies in points (23)
Logan Hutsko ranks ninth among AHL rookies in scoring (22)
Joey Daccord ranks fifth in the AHL in both goals-against average (2.18) and save percentage (.925)
INJURIES
Henry Bowlby - Out since 1/23
Ryan Lohin - Out since 1/22
Luke Henamn - Out sicne 1/18
Grigori Denisenko - Out since 1/15
Gustav Olofsson - Out since 1/12
Max Gildon - Out since 12/19
Chris Gibson - Out since 12/3
John Ludvig - Out since 11/12
Transactions
Incoming
Jan. 22 - Evan Fitzpatrick - Assigned from Florida (NHL)
Jan. 21 - Alexander True - Assigned from Seattle (NHL)
Jan. 19 - Billy Christopoulos - Signed to PTO
Jan. 18 - Max McCormick - Assigned from Seattle (NHL)
Jan. 18 - Spencer Asuchak - Signed to PTO
Outgoing
Jan. 22 - Angus Redmond - Released from PTO
Jan. 22 - Chase Priskie - Recalled by Florida (NHL)
Jan. 19 - Matt Kiersted - Recalled by Florida (NHL)
Jan. 19 - Devan Dubnyk - Released from PTO
Jan. 18 - Joey Daccord - Recalled by Seattle (NHL)
Jan. 18 - Owen Tippett - Recalled by Florida (NHL)
Jan. 18 - Aleksi Heponiemi - Recalled by Florida (NHL)
Coming Up
Friday, January 28 at 7 pm - Checkers at Utica
Saturday, January 29 at 7 pm - Checkers at Syracuse
By the Numbers
CATEGORY RECORD AHL RANK
Power play 20.3% t-9th
Penalty kill 81.7% t-12th
Goals per game 3.39 t-5th
Shots per game 28.83 20th
Goals allowed per game 3.00 13th
Shots allowed per game 28.75 10th
Penalty minutes per game 10.86 28th
LEADERS
CATEGORY LEADER(S)
Points Logan Hutsko (23), Kole Lind (22), Cole Schwindt (21)
Goals Zac Dalpe (13), Kole Lind, Scott Wilson (11)
Assists Logan Hutsko (16), Chase Priskie (14), Connor Carrick (13)
Power play goals Zac Dalpe (6), Kole Lind (5), Three tied (3)
Shorthanded goals Cole Schwindt (2), Six tied (1)
Game-winning goals Max McCormick, Grigori Denisenko (3), Scott Wilson, Carson Twarynski (2)
Shots on goal Zac Dalpe (97), Connor Carrick (80), Scott Wilson (70)
Penalty minutes Kole Lind (68), Connor Carrick (39), Max McCormick (26)
Plus/minus Cole Schwindt (+16), Lucas Carlsson, Chase Priskie (+9)
Wins Joey Daccord (8)
Goals-against average Joey Daccord (2.18)
Save percentage Joey Daccord (.925)
American Hockey League Stories from January 24, 2022
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- Marlies Get Back in Win Column with OT Victory over Grand Rapids - Toronto Marlies
- Penguins Mash Monsters, 5-1 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Monsters Tripped up in 5-1 Loss to Penguins - Cleveland Monsters
- Tucson Roadrunners Road Ahead: Returning to Tucson - Tucson Roadrunners
- Coachella Valley Firebirds Unveil Inaugural Season Jersey - Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Wolves Insider: Get Your Free Tickets Yet? - Chicago Wolves
- Kraken Recall Cale Fleury to Taxi Squad, Assign Antoine Bibeau to Charlotte - Charlotte Checkers
- IceHogs Weekly: IceHogs Wrap up Homestand with Winning Weekday vs. Iowa on Wednesday - Rockford IceHogs
- Minnesota Wild Reassigns Defenseman Calen Addison to Iowa - Iowa Wild
- Tampa Bay Lightning Reassign Three Players to Syracuse Crunch - Syracuse Crunch
- Grimaldi Named AHL Player of the Week - Milwaukee Admirals
- Milwaukee's Rocco Grimaldi Named AHL Player of the Week - AHL
- Flyers Recall Bunnaman, Sandin, Sandström - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Devils Assign Greer to Comets - Utica Comets
- AHL Reschedules Upcoming Belleville Sens Game vs Toronto Marlies - Belleville Senators
- Weekly Report: Billy's Big Week, Avoiding a Skid and More - Charlotte Checkers
- Detroit Makes Four Roster Movements - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Soderblom Recalled to Blackhawks - Rockford IceHogs
- Blue Jackets Assign Defenseman Jake Christiansen to Monsters - Cleveland Monsters
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