The Chicago Wolves earned a split and three of a possible four points in last week’s home-and-home set with Midwest Division rival Rockford, skating to an overtime loss on Friday at the MetroCentre before capturing a 4-1 win on Saturday at Allstate Arena to close out January. Following Tuesday’s School-Day Game against Rochester, the Wolves travel to Charlotte for a back-to-back against the Checkers in the team’s only road games of the month. After playing the first half of the club’s home schedule spread out over 115 days, the second half will be played in the span of just 68 days with a season-high seven home tilts in both February and March and another six in April.
THIS WEEK:
Tue., Feb. 3*
vs. Rochester Americans
Allstate Arena
11 a.m.
Fri., Feb. 6
at Charlotte Checkers
Time Warner Cable Arena
6 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 7
at Charlotte Checkers
Time Warner Cable Arena
6 p.m.
*U-Too
GAMES WILL BE TELECAST LIVE ON THE U-TOO, WCIU, OR AHL LIVE
Log on to chicagowolves.com for broadcast schedule, or to watch or listen to the action live online
THREE OUT OF FOUR AIN’T BAD
The Chicago Wolves earned a split and three of a possible four points in last week’s home-and-home set with Midwest Division rival Rockford, skating to an overtime loss on Friday at the MetroCentre before capturing a 4-1 win on Saturday at Allstate Arena to close out January. Following Tuesday’s School-Day Game against Rochester, the Wolves travel to Charlotte for a back-to-back against the Checkers in the team’s only road games of the month. After playing the first half of the club’s home schedule spread out over 115 days, the second half will be played in the span of just 68 days with a season-high seven home tilts in both February and March and another six in April.
WOLVES HEADLINERS
— Magnus Paajarvi (LW): Reinserted into the lineup on Friday after missing four games with injury, contributing three points (2G, A) in two games last week … Achieved his first multi-goal AHL contest with two tallies in Saturday’s win while also stretching his point streak to four games … Contributed on the scoresheet in five of his last six tilts, collecting six points (3G, 3A) in that span … Was on the ice for four of the five Wolves’ goals last week, with the exception coming on Saturday’s empty-net marker
— Adam Burish (RW): Also contributed three points, including a two-goal game, in two contests last week … Posted his first multi-goal professional tilt with a pair in Friday’s loss, the team’s lone markers that game … Collected points in back-to-back outings for the first time since joining the Wolves on Jan. 14 on loan from San Jose (NHL) … Put up seven points (4G, 3A) in 18 games with Worcester (AHL) this season along with three points (G, 2A) in 20 games with San Jose
— Jordan Binnington (G): Started both games for the team last week, posting a 1-0-1 record, 1.97 goals-against average, and .935 save percentage … Has received every start for the Wolves since Jan. 17 … In games from Jan. 17-31, posted a 3-2-2 record, 2.40 goals-against average, and .919 save percentage … Saturday’s win against Rockford marked the rookie’s 24th game in net for the Wolves, in which he has compiled a 13-8-3 record, 2.44 goals-against average, and .911 save percentage with one shutout
— Shane Harper (RW): Picked up the game-winning goal on Saturday, extending his career-high point streak to six games (eight points), one of the longest active streaks in the league … Ranks first on the Wolves in goals (18) and is tied for fourth in the AHL in power-play goals (8) … Made his 250th career AHL appearance on Friday night after collecting his 100th career AHL point (50G, 50A) the week prior … The Wolves hold a 15-3-0-0 record in games in which he scores
— Mathieu Brodeur (D): Dished out helpers on both Friday and Saturday, along with posting a career-high-tying +3 plus/minus rating in the latter … Stood as the fifth game this season that the defenseman has hit the +3 mark in a game after achieving it just three times prior in his five seasons of professional play (2009-present) … Has already achieved a career high with four goals this season and is six points away from matching the career-high 19 he set in 2012-13
WOLF TRACKS
— Right wing Ty Rattie was recalled from loan by St. Louis on Jan. 30. He made his NHL season debut that night at Carolina and has since skated in three games for the Blues, accruing two penalty minutes. Nathan Longpre, who was recalled from loan to Kalamazoo (ECHL), replaced RATTIE in the lineup.
— Defenseman Joel Edmundson was loaned to the Wolves by St. Louis on Monday. He had not suited up for a game with the Wolves since May 14 due to injury. The blueliner posted an impressive rookie season for the team in 2013-14 when he accrued eight points (4G, 4A), a +13 plus/minus rating, 116 shots on goal, and 108 penalty minutes in 64 games.
— With a home-heavy schedule the rest of the season — 20 of the team’s final 31 games will be played at Allstate Arena — the Wolves will look to pile up some points in their own barn. After starting the season 5-0-2-0 in Rosemont, the Wolves have gone 4-6-1-1 in their last 12. Chicago is one of two teams (Lake Erie) to have played fewer than 20 games at home so far this season.
— On Friday the Wolves’ streak of potting a power-play goal was snapped at five games. The team went a combined 0-for-4 on Friday and Saturday against Rockford. It was the longest stretch for the team since collecting man-advantage markers in six straight from Dec. 30, 2012, to Jan. 12, 2013.
— The Wolves welcomed 16,280 fans to Allstate Arena on Saturday to witness their win over Rockford. It was the team’s highest attendance since Feb. 25, 2006, and Chicago’s third home game with an attendance of 10,000-plus in January.
— Chicago continues to play at its best with a lead. When the Wolves score first, they hold a .850 points percentage (16-2-1-1, second-best in the AHL) whereas when they allow the opening goal they are at .308 (6-16-4-0).
— The team is the lone squad in the league to retain a perfect record when leading after either the first (11-0-0-0) or second (19-0-0-0) period. Chicago currently holds unbeaten streaks of 37 games when leading after one and 36 games when leading after two, dating back to last season.
— The Wolves are still looking to collect their first win when trailing after two periods. They are the lone team in the AHL without a third-period rally, going 0-16-2-1 through Saturday.
— While the sample size is small (nine games is tied for fourth-fewest in the AHL), Chicago is tied for the third-lowest points percentage (.333) in tilts that extend past regulation. The Wolves are 3-5-0-1 with 12 points in extra-time scenarios.
— The second period had been the Wolves’ strongest frame last season and for much of this year, but the tides have shifted as the team now holds its highest goal differential in the final stanza. Chicago’s goal differentials stand at -9 in the first period, +11 in the second period, and +13 in the third period. This correlates as the same period with the highest shot differential (+37 in the first, -11 in the second, and +54 in the third).
READING RAINBOW
The Wolves continue the 20th season of the Read to Succeed program, presented by Butternut Bread and J.U.L.I.E., Inc., with two visits this week. On Wednesday, Feb. 4, defenseman Jake Chelios will visit to Palos Heights Public Library at 4 p.m. before heading to Tinley Park Public Library for a 7 p.m. program. For more information, call 1-800-THE-WOLVES or visit ChicagoWolves.com.
WOLVES REWIND (1-0-1-0)
Saturday, Jan. 31
(at) Chicago 4, Rockford 1
— The Wolves collected a 2-0 lead in the first 26 minutes of the contest and hung on from there, registering a 4-1 Illinois Lottery Cup win over Rockford at Allstate Arena
— Left wing Magnus Paajarvi posted his first two-goal game in the AHL while right wing Shane Harper added a second-period tally and center Pat Cannone potted an empty-net marker
— Goaltender Jordan Binnington made 32 saves to earn the win
Friday, Jan. 30
(at) Rockford 3, Chicago 2 (OT)
— Rockford’s Jamie Wise scored 2:05 into overtime to give the IceHogs a 3-2 victory in Illinois Lottery Cup action at the MetroCentre
— Forward Adam Burish scored both goals for the Wolves, which included a tally with 1:02 left in regulation to force extra time
— Goaltender Jordan Binnington stopped 26 of 29 shots in the loss