Saturday, January 3, 2015

Game 33: Texas Stars at Charlotte Checkers

Puck Drop: Saturday, 7 p.m.

TV/Radio infoAHL Live / Online

Records: Checkers 11-17-3-1, Stars 13-10-8-0

The Checkers return to Charlotte and Time Warner Cable Arena looking to snap a three-game post-holiday slide with a quick two-game series against the Texas Stars, beginning Saturday night and concluding with a 3 p.m game on Sunday.

After Sunday, the Checkers will head out on a four-game road trip, beginning with two games against the Grand Rapids Griffins (17-11-3-1).

Notes: John Muse has started the past three games in net for the Checkers with Drew MacIntyre competing for the Spengler Cup in Switzerland. MacIntyre’s team was eliminated from Cup play on Dec. 30. ... With MacIntyre back on North American soil, the Checkers reassigned goalie Daniel Altshuller to the ECHL’s Florida Everblades. A third-round pick in 2012, Altshuller backed up Muse for all three games that MacIntyre missed and is still awaiting his AHL debut. ... Following Friday morning’s practice, Checkers coach Jeff Daniels confirmed that the team has released forward A.J. Jenks from his professional tryout contract. ... Veteran Chad LaRose, who is tied for the Checkers’ scoring lead with 17 points, is questionable to play this weekend’s games due to an injury that kept him out of the team’s last game on Wednesday. ... The Checkers struggles away from Time Warner Cable Arena following the holiday dropped their record to 3-11-2 on the road this season. ... Saturday marks the sixth of eight meetings between the Checkers and Texas this season, with the teams alternating victories. In 25 all-time contests, the Checkers hold a 10-11-4 record, including a 6-5-1 mark at Time Warner Cable Arena. ... Charlotte is in the midst of a stretch in which it plays 11 consecutive games agains the West Division. The Checkers are 6-10-3 in divisional play this season.

Checkers lines: 

Brock McGinn-Ben Holmstrom-Chad LaRose
Phil Di Giuseppe-Andrew Rowe-Justin Shugg
Carter Sandlak-Patrick Brown-Gabriel Desjardins
Kyle Hagel-Brendan Woods-Jared Staal

Rasmus Rissanen-Danny Biega
Trevor Carrick-Keegan Lowe
Dennis Robertson-Austin Levi

John Muse
Drew MacIntyre

Healthy scratches: none.

Injured/out: Brody Sutter (lower body), Greg Nemisz (knee), Beau Schmitz (undisclosed).

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