Game 40: Toronto Marlies at Charlotte Checkers

Puck Drop: Friday, 7 p.m.

TV/Radio info: AHL Live / Online

Records: Checkers (14-20-4-1), Marlies (17-15-6-0)

The Checkers looked flat in their return to Time Warner Cable Arena on Thursday in a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Marlies. Zach Boychuk scored the lone goal for Charlotte, which has now recorded two or fewer goals in 26 of its last 39 games and nine of its last 10 overall. The road win extended the Marlies current point streak to 10 games.

Following Friday night's game, the Checkers will have four days to rest and recuperate before traveling to Norfolk to take on the Admirals.

Notes: Zach Boychuk's goal on Thursday gave hime 104 for his Checkers career and tied him with old friend Chris Terry for the franchise's all-time goals record. ... Chad LaRose -- who gave his first interview of the season to ESPN earlier this week -- leads the Checkers in scoring (9-11-20) and has recorded points in three of his last five games. ... The Checkers released forward Andrew Rowe from his professional tryout contract just prior to their game on Thursday and immediately following the loss, reassigned defenseman Austin Levi to Stockton of the ECHL. ... Rowe, 26, played 28 games with the Checkers after initially beginning the season in the ECHL. During that time, he notched five points (1g, 4a). ... Levi, 22, went scoreless with no penalty minutes in four games. ... In five matchups all time, the Checkers (0-5-0-0) are yet to record a point against the Marlies.

Checkers lines: 

Brock McGinn-Ben Holmstrom-Chad LaRose
Zach Boychuk-Brody Sutter-Justin Shugg
Carter Sandlak-Brendan Woods-Phil Di Giuseppe
Kyle Hagel-Patrick Brown-Jared Staal

Rasmus Rissanen-Danny Biega
Trevor Carrick-Michal Jordan
Dennis Robertson-Keegan Lowe

John Muse
Drew MacIntyre

Healthy scratches: Alex Aleardi.

Injured/out: Greg Nemisz (knee), Beau Schmitz (undisclosed), Gabriel Desjardins (undisclosed).