After a disappointing loss to Rochester on Tuesday, the Chicago Wolves rebounded with a two-game sweep of the Checkers in Charlotte on Friday and Saturday. Those games were the last on the road for the Wolves this month as they return to Allstate Arena for a season-high seven-game homestand (Feb. 11 to March 1). During this stretch they will face some of their toughest competition of the season, including league-leading Oklahoma City and division rival Milwaukee, winners of 13 of its last 15. Chicago has played the fewest home games in the league this season (19) and will play 19 of its final 28 tilts in Rosemont. The team is 9-6-3-1 at home but 3-5-1-1 in its last 10.
THIS WEEK:
Wed., Feb. 11*
vs. Milwaukee Admirals#
Allstate Arena
7 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 13*
vs. Oklahoma City Barons
Allstate Arena
7 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 15*
vs. Grand Rapids Griffins
Allstate Arena
7 p.m.
#Amtrak Rivalry
*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
LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN
After a disappointing loss to Rochester on Tuesday, the Chicago Wolves rebounded with a two-game sweep of the Checkers in Charlotte on Friday and Saturday. Those games were the last on the road for the Wolves this month as they return to Allstate Arena for a season-high seven-game homestand (Feb. 11 to March 1). During this stretch they will face some of their toughest competition of the season, including league-leading Oklahoma City and division rival Milwaukee, winners of 13 of its last 15. Chicago has played the fewest home games in the league this season (19) and will play 19 of its final 28 tilts in Rosemont. The team is 9-6-3-1 at home but 3-5-1-1 in its last 10.
WOLVES HEADLINERS
— Shane Harper (RW): Contributed five points (3G, 2A) in three games last week, including his first two-goal outing of the season on Feb. 7 at Charlotte … Extended his career-high nine-game point streak (13 points, Jan. 19-present), the longest active streak in the league and one shy of tying the league season-high … Ranks first on the Wolves and third in the league with 21 goals … Leads the AHL in shooting percentage (26.3 percent) and is tied for first in power-play goals (10) … Places second on the Wolves with 33 points in 48 games, tying his career high set last season in 63 games … Has scored more goals this season (21) than he did in his 143-game career with Adirondack (20) from 2009-13 … The Wolves hold a 17-3-0-0 record in games in which he scores
— Jordan Binnington (G): Was between the pipes for all three games last week, pushing his consecutive start streak to a season-high 10 games, three games away from tying the franchise record … Went 2-1-0 last week, posting a 1.83 goals-against average and .939 save percentage … Made an AHL career-high 39 saves on Friday at Charlotte and was 4:41 away from his second AHL shutout … First Wolves rookie netminder to make 10 consecutive regular-season starts (Eddie Pasquale had nine in 2010-11) … Has accrued a 5-3-2 record, 2.25 goals-against average, and .924 save percentage in that stretch … Has compiled a 15-9-3 record, 2.37 goals-against average, and .914 save percentage in 27 appearances for the Wolves this season
— Joel Edmundson (D): Made his season debut on Tuesday after missing the first 45 games of the season rehabbing an injury … Collected his first goal (the game-winning tally), a +1 plus/minus rating, and a team-high four shots on Saturday at Charlotte … Of his five career AHL goals, three of them have stood as the winning marker … Started Tuesday on a defensive pairing with rookie Jake Chelios before being switched to a partnership with fellow second-year blueliner Jani Hakanpaa for Friday and Saturday … Posted eight points (4G, 4A), a +14 plus/minus rating, 116 shots on goal, and 108 penalty minutes in 64 games as a rookie with the Wolves last season
— Adam Burish (RW): Extended his AHL career-high point streak to five games with one goal and two assists last week, contributing six points (3G, 3A) during the stretch … Notched the game-winning power-play goal in Friday’s 4-1 win … Has excelled on a line with left wing Magnus Paajarvi and center Philip McRae … Has compiled seven points (4G, 3A) in 11 games 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
WOLF TRACKS
— Right wing Ty Rattie, on recall with St. Louis, collected his first NHL point on his 22nd birthday in the Blues’ Feb. 5 win at Buffalo. The goal was scored by Dmitrij Jaskin and assisted by Chris Butler, both of whom have also spent time with the Wolves this season.
— Goaltender Niklas Lundstrom got his first taste of AHL action last week as he played 13:42 in Tuesday’s loss to Rochester, stopping all six shots he faced.
— Left wing Nathan Longpre notched his first AHL goal of the season for the Wolves on Saturday, an empty-net tally that sealed the team’s win. Prior to that tilt he had been held scoreless in six games for Chicago this season.
— Left wing Yannick Veilleux assisted on defenseman Joel Edmundson’s game-winning goal on Saturday, snapping a 23-game point drought for the forward.
— Wolves defenseman and captain Brent Regner ranks fourth in the league with a team-leading +18 plus/minus rating.
— Left wing Magnus Paajarvi enters the team’s seven-game homestand on a three-game home goal-scoring streak (four goals). The span is tied for top active streak of its kind in the league.
— With a pair of 4-1 victories in Charlotte last week, the Wolves extended their winning streak at Time Warner Cable Arena to five games. They are 7-3-0-0 there all-time against the Checkers, who will be moving from TWC Arena to Bojangles’ Coliseum next season.
— The Wolves hold the highest road goal differential in the AHL at +18 (93 goals for, 75 goals against). They are even (46 GF, 46GA) at home.
— The team continues to hold down the second spot in the league in points percentage when scoring first, going 18-2-1-1 (.864). Utica leads the league at .913.
— Following a 4-for-14 week on the man-advantage, the Wolves’ power play sits second in the AHL at 21.2 percent (40-for-189). The squad is just three goals away from tying its power-play output from last season (43-for-342).
— Despite posting a -7 goal differential in the first period (No. 22), the Wolves make up for it with a third-ranked +15 goal differential in the second period and a fourth-ranked +13 goal differential in the final frame.
— Although they allowed 40 shots on Friday at Charlotte, the Wolves continue to chart among the best in shots allowed. The team is averaging 27.52 shots against per game, third-fewest in the AHL.
TRADING IN PUCKS FOR BOOKS
The Wolves’ top two leading scorers will take a break from lighting the lamp to help the team continue the 20th season of its Read to Succeed program, presented by Butternut Bread and J.U.L.I.E., Inc., with four visits this week. On Tuesday, Feb. 10, forwards Shane Harper and Pat Cannone will each make two visits. HARPER will visit the Skokie Public Library at 4:30 p.m. then head to the Lincolnwood Public Library for a 7 p.m. program. Meanwhile CANNONE, who attended Miami University (Ohio), will stop by Prospect Heights Public Library at 4 p.m. and Elk Grove Village Public Library at 7 p.m. For more information, call 1-800-THE-WOLVES or visit ChicagoWolves.com.
WOLVES REWIND (2-1-0-0)
Saturday, Feb. 7
Chicago 4, (at) Charlotte 1
— The Wolves toppled the Charlotte Checkers to collect their second straight 4-1 win and fifth straight victory at Time Warner Cable Arena
— Right wing Shane Harper passed the 20-goal mark with two tallies while defenseman Joel Edmundson and left wing Nathan Longpre (EN) rounded out scoring
— Goaltender Jordan Binnington stopped 20 of 21 shots
Friday, Feb. 6
Chicago 4, (at) Charlotte 1
— Shane Harper’s team-high 19th goal came just 3:17 into the game to set the tone for the Wolves’ win at Time Warner Cable Arena
— Forwards Adam Burish, Philip McRae (G, A), and Terry Broadhurst (G, A) tallied in the second period while defensemen Brent Regner and Petteri Lindbohm enjoyed +3 plus/minus ratings
— Goaltender Jordan Binnington posted a season-high 39 saves to earn the win
Tuesday, Feb. 3
Rochester 3, (at) Chicago 2
— The Wolves spotted the Amerks a three-goal cushion and, despite two goals in the final 10 minutes, could not rally as they dropped a 3-2 School-Day Game decision at Allstate Arena
— Left wing Magnus Paajarvi notched his fourth goal in as many games while center Jeremy Welsh rounded out scoring for the Wolves
— Goaltender Jordan Binnington stopped 18 of 21 shots in 43:32 of action before being replace by Niklas Lundstrom, who stopped all six shots he faced in his AHL debut
