Coming off a poor special-teams showing in Syracuse, and a late loss in Utica, the Laval Rocket headed south of the Mason-Dixon Line for a showdown with one of the AHL’s best sides: the Charlotte Checkers.
The team would be without three of its mainstays in Kenny Agostino, Michael Chaput, and Brett Kulak, all of whom are on recall with the Montreal Canadiens. Stepping into the lineup for the injured Hayden Verbeek came Phelix Martineau, who was playing in his first career AHL game. Charlie Lindgren got the nod in net, facing Alex Nedeljkovic for the Checkers.