Starting off the 2014 Calder Cup playoffs strong, the second-seeded Wolves closed out the Western Conference Quarterfinals with a 4-2 win over Rochester in a decisive Game 5 on Sunday and move on to the Western Conference Semifinals to face third-seeded Toronto; this will be the 13th time in 16 postseason appearances that Chicago has made it to the final eight teams, posting an 8-4 series record in the first 12 instances and 8-2 under head coach JOHN ANDERSON.
THIS WEEK:
Game 1 – Western Conference Semifinals
Fri., May 9*
vs. Toronto Marlies
Allstate Arena
7:30 p.m.
Game 2 – Western Conference Semifinals
Sat., May 10*
vs. Toronto Marlies
Allstate Arena
7 p.m.
*U-Too
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
ON TO THE NEXT ONE
Starting off the 2014 Calder Cup playoffs strong, the second-seeded Wolves closed out the Western Conference Quarterfinals with a 4-2 win over Rochester in a decisive Game 5 on Sunday and move on to the Western Conference Semifinals to face third-seeded Toronto; this will be the 13th time in 16 postseason appearances that Chicago has made it to the final eight teams, posting an 8-4 series record in the first 12 instances and 8-2 under head coach JOHN ANDERSON.
WOLVES HEADLINERS
— Dmitrij Jaskin: Scored the game-winning power-play goal on Sunday to boost his totals last week to four points (G, 3A) in three games … Leads the Wolves in postseason production with seven points (2G, 5A), five of which (G, 4A) have come on the man-advantage, and was on the scoresheet in all but one game in the first round … Missed the Wolves’ last 16 regular-season games while on recall to St. Louis, which reassigned him the morning of Game 1 … Posted a goal, an assist, and 18 shots in 18 games with the Blues this season … Appeared in 42 regular-season games for Chicago, recording 15 goals and 14 points, tied for second on the team with 0.69 points-per-game as a rookie
— Brent Regner: Tallied the game-tying power-play goal on Sunday for his sixth point (2G, 4A) of the playoffs, second on the Wolves behind Dmitrij Jaskin … Tied for the team lead with a +4 plus/minus rating and is one postseason goal shy of equaling his regular-season total (3) … Returned to the Wolves lineup for the playoffs after missing 13 of the last 16 regular-season games with an injury … 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 American Hockey League
— Keith Aucoin: Posted four points in the first round (2G, 2A) to increase his all-time Calder Cup playoff totals to 86 points (16G, 70A) in 88 games … Sat second on the Wolves during the regular season with 43 points (11G, 32A) in 62 tilts … Is participating in his eighth AHL postseason and has won two Calder Cups (2009, 2010), both with Hershey … Currently sits seventh all-time in AHL scoring, having racked up 857 points (244G, 613A) in 13 seasons since turning pro in 2001-02
— Adam Cracknell: Rejoined the Wolves from St. Louis prior to Game 3, posting two goals and an assist in the series’ final three games … Chicago is 2-0 in the playoffs when the center records a point after posting a 13-2-2-0 record in the regular season when he marked the boxscore … Collected his first National Hockey League postseason goal during five Stanley Cup playoff appearances with the Blues … Paced the Wolves with 0.89 points-per-game in the regular season, contributing 25 points (12G, 13A) in 28 contests
WOLF TRACKS
— The Wolves have faced Toronto once before in the postseason, winning their 2008 Western Conference Finals series 4-1 en route to the team’s most-recent Calder Cup; Chicago has not met the Marlies or any other Canadian team in the playoffs since then.
— Of the 20 skaters and two goalies that suited up throughout Chicago’s Western Conference Quarterfinals triumph, it was the first AHL postseason series win for 14 of them; of the group, only Keith Aucoin, Pat Cannone, Taylor Chorney, Matt Climie, Joe Corvo, Christian Hanson, Evan Oberg, and Eric Selleck had previously won a Calder Cup series.
— The Wolves hold home-ice advantage against Toronto and have the second-most regular-season points (behind Texas) of all teams remaining in the hunt for the Calder Cup; Chicago is 7-1 in conference semifinal series when holding home-ice advantage, with the lone series loss coming in seven games against Texas in 2010.
— Special teams play was a key factor in Chicago’s series with Rochester as at least two power-play goals were scored in each game; Chicago converted a fifth-best 25.9 percent of their chances (7-for-27) with the man-advantage and shut down the Americans on a 15th-best 70.4 percent of their opportunities (19-for-27).
— In all five Western Conference Quarterfinal games, the team that had the most shots on goal was victorious; during the regular season, the Wolves were 27-10-4-4 when outshooting their opponent.
WOLVES REWIND (2-1)
Sunday, May 4
(at) Chicago 4, Rochester 2
— The Wolves fell behind 2-1 in Game 5, but scored on consecutive power plays late in the second to win the series 3-2 at Allstate Arena
— Brent Regner and Dmitrij Jaskin tallied with the man-advantage to tie and win the game, respectively, while Shane Harper opened scoring and Taylor Chorney sealed the win with an empty net
— Goaltender Jake Allen stopped 21 of 23 shots to earn the win
Friday, May 2
Rochester 7, (at) Chicago 2
— The Americans tallied four first-period goals in Game 4, including two in the opening 1:39, to stave off elimination at Allstate Arena
— Forward Nathan Longpre scored in the first to pull the Wolves within 2-1 and center Christian Hanson also tallied
— Goaltender Jake Allen made 12 saves on 17 shots before being relieved by Matt Climie, who posted 13 saves on 15 shots
Thursday, May 1
(at) Chicago 4, Rochester 0
— Adam Cracknell scored twice in the first 16 minutes to set the tone for the Game 3 victory at Allstate Arena
— Keith Aucoin and Ty Rattie added power-play goals while Dmitrij Jaskin and Brent Regner had two assists apiece
— Goaltender Jake Allen stopped all 18 shots for his first postseason shutout
