Weekly Report: Noel's Big Night, Daccord's Hot Streak and More
January 17, 2022 - American Hockey League (AHL) - Charlotte Checkers News Release
The Checkers kicked off one of the busiest stretches of their schedule by claiming a road win in Hartford before splitting their first home series of 2022 against the Stars.
Week in Review
Team Statistics
Overall record 17-13-2-0
Home record 8-6-2-0
Road record 9-7-0-0
Last week's record 2-1-0-0
Last 10 games 7-3-0-0
Division Standings 5th
Conference Standings 8th
League Standings 15th
Checkers 2, Hartford 1 (OT)
The Checkers wrapped up their first road trip of the calendar year by locking in a defensive battle against the Wolf Pack. Joey Daccord continued his stellar play and put up 29 saves, while Grigori Denisenko single handedly carried the offense - tying the game at one midway through the third period and then netting the overtime winner just under two minutes into the extra frame. Full recap
Checkers 8, Texas 3
Charlotte's offense exploded in their return home against Texas, with Serron Noel's first-period hat trick leading the way. After being deadlocked at two midway through the first, the Checkers pumped in six unanswered tallies to blow the Stars out of the water and claim a victory on Charlotte Night. Full recap
Checkers 5, Texas 6
The Checkers couldn't replicate that success in the following day's rematch, however. Playing in front of a small crowd due to a winter storm, Charlotte and Texas traded blows throughout the contest until Aleksi Heponiemi drew things to a 4-4 tie early on in the third. The Stars quickly responded with a pair of goals of their own, however, to reestablish their lead, and despite Kole Lind's buzzer-beating power-play strike, the Checkers couldn't muster a comeback. Full recap
Three Stars Of The Week
3rd Star Connor Carrick 1g, 3a
2nd Star Owen Tippett 0g, 4a
1st Star Serron Noel 3g, 0a
NOTABLES
NOEL'S BIG NIGHT
Serron Noel lit the lamp three times in the first period of Charlotte's big 8-3 win over Texas on Saturday, picking up his first pro hat trick. It marked the first hat trick by a Checkers player on home ice since Janne Kuokkanen did it in 2018, and it is only the second time a player has scored three goals in a single period in franchise history - joining Zach Boychuk's third-period hat trick in 2014.
DACCORD STEPS UP
After spending much of the first chunk of the season rotating through a stable of goalies, the coaching staff has leaned heavily on Joey Daccord as of late. Saturday's win over Texas marked the fifth consecutive start for the netminder - prior to that, no Checkers goalie had started more than two games in a row this season. Daccord has won five of his last six starts and has given up a single goal in four of his last seven appearances. Those strong performances have pushed Daccord to rank fourth in the AHL in both goals-against average and save percentage.
STILL TIPPETT
Having been assigned to Charlotte just before the weekend slate of games, Owen Tippett showed up big in his first games wearing a Checkers sweater. The forward picked up two assists in each contest and now has 19 points in his last 12 AHL games dating back to the 2019-20 season.
LIGHTING IT UP
After a dip in production that saw them score 10 total goals over a five-game stretch, the Checkers got back to their high-scoring ways against the Stars by pumping in 13 goals over the two-game series. Charlotte now boasts the fifth-ranked offense in the AHL and have scored over five goals eight different times this season.
OUT WEST
The two-game set with Texas marked the only time that a Western Conference team will visit Bojangles Coliseum this regular season, as the Stars are the only Western Conference team on Charlotte's schedule. Those contests marked the first time the Checkers have faced a Western Conference opponent during the regular season since 2016-17 - the last season the Checkers themselves were in the Western Conference.
RANKS
Joey Daccord ranks fourth in the AHL in goals-against average (2.18) and save percentage (.925)
Cole Schwindt is tied for the lead among AHL rookies in plus-minus (+14) and tied for sixth overall
Cole Schwindt is tied for eighth among AHL rookies in goals (9)
Kole Lind ranks fifth in the AHL in penalty minutes
Kole Lind and Zac Dalpe are tied for eighth in the AHL in power-play goals (5)
Logan Hutsko ranks ninth among AHL rookies in scoring (22)
Logan Hutsko is tied for ninth among league rookies in assists (15)
Cale Fleury is tied for sixth among AHL defensemen in goals (5)
Connor Carrick and Cale Fleury are tied for the lead among AHL defensemen in power-play goals (3)
INJURIES
John Ludvig
Grigori Denisenko - Out since 1/15
Gustav Olofsson - Out since 1/12
Max Gildon - Out since 12/19
Chris Gibson - Out since 12/3
Transactions
Incoming
Jan. 14 - Aleksi Heponiemi - Assigned from Florida (NHL)
Jan. 14 - Owen Tippett - Assigned from Florida (NHL)
Outgoing
Jan. 14 - Nick Albano - Released from PTO
Coming Up
Tuesday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. - Checkers vs. Springfield
Buy Tickets
50s Week - throwback pricing! Tickets available for just $1.25 while supplies last. Click here to purchase
Thursday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. - Checkers vs. Springfield
Buy Tickets
BUY COLLEGE NIGHT
50s Week - throwback pricing! Hot dogs, popcorn and soda available for just $1 each.
College Night presented by Central Carolina Acura Dealers - get $18 best available tickets with your valid college email address
Saturday, Jan. 22 at 4 p.m. - Checkers vs. Lehigh Valley
Buy Tickets
BUY KOOZIE PACKAGE
Country Music Night - get a ticket and a limited edition cowboy boot koozie together for just $25 total.
Sunday, Jan. 23 at 1 p.m. - Checkers vs. Lehigh Valley
Buy Tickets
Olympics Night presented by World Travel Mates - gold medal giveaway to the first 750 fans
Postgame Skate presented by Novant Health. Details pending AHL COVID-19 protocols.
By the Numbers
CATEGORY RECORD AHL RANK
Power play 22.1% 5th
Penalty kill 82.6% t-9th
Goals per game 3.44 5th
Shots per game 28.91 20th
Goals allowed per game 3.00 12th
Shots allowed per game 28.66 8th
Penalty minutes per game 11.34 25th
LEADERS
CATEGORY LEADER(S)
Points Logan Hutsko (22), Cole Schwindt (20), Four tied (18)
Goals Scott Wilson (11), Kole Lind, Zac Dalpe (10)
Assists Logan Hutsko (15), Aleksi Heponiemi, Connor Carrick (12)
Power play goals Kole Lind, Zac Dalpe (5), Three tied (3)
Shorthanded goals Cole Schwindt (2), Max McCormick, Scott Wilson, Alex True (1)
Game-winning goals Max McCormick, Grigori Denisenko (3), Scott Wilson (2)
Shots on goal Zac Dalpe (83), Connor Carrick (66), Chase Priskie (64)
Penalty minutes Kole Lind (62), Connor Carrick (39), Cale Fleury (25)
Plus/minus Cole Schwindt (+14), Lucas Carlsson (+9), Luke Henman, Chase Priskie (+6)
Wins Joey Daccord (8)
Goals-against average Joey Daccord (2.18)
Save percentage Joey Daccord (.925)
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