The Wolves dropped the opening two games of the Western Conference Semifinals to the Marlies at Allstate Arena last week and now hit the road to Toronto for Games 3-5 (if necessary) looking to shrink the 2-0 deficit; Chicago is 2-7 all-time when starting off a postseason series with consecutive losses and 1-2 when doing so on home ice, with the pair of series victories coming in 2000 and 2002, both championship seasons.
THIS WEEK:
Game 3 – Western Conference Semifinals
Wed., May 14*
at Toronto Marlies
Ricoh Coliseum
6 p.m.
Game 4 – Western Conference Semifinals
Fri., May 16*
at Toronto Marlies
Ricoh Coliseum
6 p.m.
Game 5 – Western Conference Semifinals**
Sat., May 17*
at Toronto Marlies
Ricoh Coliseum
6 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
SHORT MEMORY
The Wolves dropped the opening two games of the Western Conference Semifinals to the Marlies at Allstate Arena last week and now hit the road to Toronto for Games 3-5 (if necessary) looking to shrink the 2-0 deficit; Chicago is 2-7 all-time when starting off a postseason series with consecutive losses and 1-2 when doing so on home ice, with the pair of series victories coming in 2000 and 2002, both championship seasons.
WOLVES HEADLINERS
— Dmitrij Jaskin: Added another goal on Saturday to continue scoring at a higher than point-per-game pace, registering eight points (3G, 5A) in seven games in his first professional postseason … Leads the Wolves and league rookies in postseason production and is tied for first in the circuit with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Chuck Kobasew and Toronto’s Jerry D’Amigo … Paces the league in postseason power-play points (2G, 4A) … Missed the Wolves’ last 16 regular-season games while on recall to St. Louis, which reassigned him the morning of Game 1 at Rochester … 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
— Shane Harper: Opened scoring for the Wolves in the third period of Saturday’s game, sparking a late rally that almost saw Chicago post a comeback … Is appearing in his first American Hockey League postseason and sits fourth on the Wolves in scoring with four points (2G, 2A) … Posted his best professional season this year, achieving career-highs in goals (13), assists (20), points (33), and plus/minus rating (+19) in 63 games … Signed by the Wolves this summer as a free agent after spending four seasons (2009-13) with Adirondack, collecting 41 points (20G, 21A) in 143 games
— David Shields: Made his AHL postseason debut on Saturday, registering two penalty minutes and an even plus/minus rating … Missed the Wolves’ last 15 regular-season games and six playoff games rehabbing an injury suffered on March 16 versus Texas … Surpassed his previous career totals in this season alone, recording five goals, 15 points, and a +10 plus/minus rating in 55 games … Collected nine points, all assists, over 107 games in his first two professional seasons with Peoria
WOLF TRACKS
— The Wolves swept their games north of the border during the regular season, posting a 4-0 record in Canadian teams’ buildings while beating their opponents by a combined score of 17-5; this included a 2-1 win in Toronto on Jan. 25 when Jake Allen stopped 28 of 29 shots.
— Through nine contests across the league’s Conference Semifinals, the team that scores first has won the game; Chicago was 31-5-1-3 in the regular season when getting the opening tally and went 2-1 in the first round against Rochester when doing so.
— Saturday’s game was the first tilt spanning the 2013-14 regular-season and postseason series between the two clubs that the Wolves have stopped the Marlies from getting a power-play goal (0-for-1); Chicago’s penalty kill has stopped 69.7 percent of opponents’ chances (23-for-33) in the postseason and has gone 4-for-6 against Toronto this round.
— Chicago converted one of four man-advantage chances on Saturday and has its postseason power play clicking at a fifth-best 23.5 percent (8-for-34), 10.9 percent higher than their regular-season finish.
— The Wolves have struggled in the first period in the playoffs, posting a goal differential of -6 while standing at -1 in the second period and +2 in the third period; Chicago had a positive goal differential in all three periods during the regular season.
WOLVES REWIND (0-2)
Saturday, May 10
Toronto 4, (at) Chicago 2
— The Wolves went down 3-0 in the first period and the Marlies held off a late rally to sweep the first two games at Allstate Arena
— Shane Harper and Dmitrij Jaskin got Chicago within one goal on third-period tallies before Toronto sealed it with an empty-net marker
— Goaltender Jake Allen kicked out 18 of 21 shots
Friday, May 9
Toronto 5, (at) Chicago 2
— The Marlies tallied the first three goals, two on the power play, to take a commanding early lead in Game 1 at Allstate Arena
— Forwards Christian Hanson and Michael Davies made it 3-2 in the second period before Toronto pulled away
— Goaltender Jake Allen stopped 30 of 35 shots
