After going 1-1 in Rochester to open the Western Conference Quarterfinals, the Wolves return to the comfort of Allstate Arena looking to capture two more games and the first round against the Americans; Chicago has not split on the road to open a postseason series since 2002 and is 4-3 all-time when doing so, including three rounds during the 2002 Calder Cup playoffs during which they posted an .857 winning percentage (12-2) at home to claim the championship.
THIS WEEK:
Game 3 – Western Conference Quarterfinals
Thurs., May 1*
vs. Rochester Americans
Allstate Arena
7 p.m.
Game 4 – Western Conference Quarterfinals
Fri., May 2*
vs. Rochester Americans
Allstate Arena
7:30 p.m.
Game 5 – Western Conference Quarterfinals**
Sun., May 4*
vs. Rochester Americans
Allstate Arena
3 p.m.
*U-Too
**If necessary
GAMES WILL BE TELECAST LIVE ON THE U-TOO OR WCIU
Log on to ChicagoWolves.com for broadcast schedule, or to watch or listen to the action live online
HOMECOMING
After going 1-1 in Rochester to open the Western Conference Quarterfinals, the Wolves return to the comfort of Allstate Arena looking to capture two more games and the first round against the Americans; Chicago has not split on the road to open a postseason series since 2002 and is 4-3 all-time when doing so, including three rounds during the 2002 Calder Cup playoffs during which they posted an .857 winning percentage (12-2) at home to claim the championship.
WOLVES HEADLINERS
— Dmitrij Jaskin: Tied for the team lead with three points in the Wolves’ opening two playoff games, the left wing’s first AHL postseason experience … Scored the overtime game-winning goal in Game 1 to cap Chicago’s third-period rally and added two assists on Saturday … Missed the Wolves’ last 16 regular-season games while on recall to St. Louis, who reassigned him Friday morning … Posted a goal, an assist, and 18 shots in 18 games with the Blues this season … Appeared in 42 regular-season games for Chicago while recording 15 goals and 14 points, tied for second on the team with 0.69 points-per-game as a rookie … Tied in the top spot for the Wolves with five power-play goals and trails only Ty Rattie with 137 shots
— Brent Regner: Returned to the Wolves lineup for the postseason after missing 13 of the last 16 regular-season games with an injury, contributing a goal and two assists to tie Dmitrij Jaskin for the team lead in playoff points … Dished out the second-most assists (21) on the Wolves this regular season for 24 points in 63 games … Was the only Chicago player to appear in all of the team’s first 60 games this season before having his iron man streak snapped at 113, dating back to last year … Is suiting up for his first postseason as a professional in his fifth year in the AHL
— Jake Allen: Picked up his first playoff win on Friday in his second AHL postseason, as he went 0-3 in 2011 with Peoria … Turned aside 54 of 60 shots in 120:24 of action last week for a 2.99 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage … Received a myriad of accolades for his regular-season play, including the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial award as the league’s top goaltender, the AHL First All-Star Team nod, winning the “Triple Crown” as the league-leader in wins (33), goals-against average (2.03), and save percentage (.928), and serving as the starting goaltender for the 2014 AHL All-Star game
WOLF TRACKS
— Four roster moves were made since Saturday’s game as the Wolves reassigned left wing Eric Kattelus and defenseman Brett Ponich to Kalamazoo (ECHL), released defenseman Henrik Odegaard to represent Norway in the IIHF World Championship, and released forward Zach Pochiro from his professional tryout contract.
— Of the 10 Wolves to get on the scoresheet last week, it was the first AHL postseason point for seven of them; six of those players contribute to the grand total of eight Wolves so far who have made their AHL postseason debuts this series.
— Chicago has an all-time record of 71-34 at home in the postseason, a .676 winning percentage, and has captured three of their four championships on home ice; the Wolves have only had one losing postseason home record under head coach JOHN ANDERSON, going 2-3 in 2003, and are 62-24 (.721 winning percentage) in their own barn under the bench boss in the playoffs.
— The Wolves have come out on top in 20 straight postseason series in which they won the opening game, as they did in Rochester, and hold a 20-1 record all-time in the situation; the lone blemish came in the 1996 Western Conference Semifinals against Las Vegas.
— After finishing the regular season with a league-worst 12.6 percent (43-for-342) on the power play, the Wolves have tallied man-advantage markers in both Game 1 and Game 2 for a 20 percent postseason power-play conversion rate (2-for-10); on the other end of the spectrum, Chicago’s penalty kill has dropped from 85.6 percent (292-for-341) to 72.7 percent (8-for-11) in the playoffs.
WOLVES REWIND (1-1-0-0)
Saturday, April 26
(at) Rochester 3, Chicago (2)
— The Wolves opened scoring but surrendered three consecutive goals to the Americans as they fell at Blue Cross Arena
— Forwards Nathan Longpre and Keith Aucoin (PP) opened and closed the game’s scoring, respectively
— Goaltender Jake Allen made 28 saves on 31 shots
Friday, April 25
Chicago 4, (at) Rochester 3 (OT)
— The Wolves twice rallied from two-goal deficits to claim the Game 1 victory at Blue Cross Arena
— Defensemen Brent Regner (PP) and Mark Cundari and forwards Sebastian Wannstrom (SH) and Dmitrij Jaskin (GW) scored
— Goaltender Jake Allen stopped 26 of 29 shots to earn his first postseason win