The Chicago Wolves closed out their four-game season series with San Antonio last weekend, earning a weekend split and season series split with the Rampage following a win on Saturday and loss on Sunday. The team’s attention turns back to the Midwest Division as two rivals — Grand Rapids and Milwaukee — roll into town for another busy weekend. The Griffins and Admirals are tied atop the division standings, slightly edging out Rockford, who has the same amount of points but with an extra game played. In addition to that trio, the Wolves are clinging to the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference, making four of the eight teams currently in playoff spots members of the Midwest Division.
THIS WEEK:
Sat., Feb. 28*
vs. Grand Rapids Griffins
Allstate Arena
7 p.m.
Sun., March 1*
vs. Milwaukee Admirals#
Allstate Arena
3 p.m.
*U-Too
#Amtrak Rivalry Game
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
SAN ANTONIO SPLIT
The Chicago Wolves closed out their four-game season series with San Antonio last weekend, earning a weekend split and season series split with the Rampage following a win on Saturday and loss on Sunday. The team’s attention turns back to the Midwest Division as two rivals — Grand Rapids and Milwaukee — roll into town for another busy weekend. The Griffins and Admirals are tied atop the division standings, slightly edging out Rockford, who has the same amount of points but with an extra game played. In addition to that trio, the Wolves are clinging to the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference, making four of the eight teams currently in playoff spots members of the Midwest Division.
WOLVES HEADLINERS
— Jordan Binnington (G): Set and extended a franchise record with his 14th and 15th consecutive regular-season starts on Saturday and Sunday, respectively … Shattered the previous mark of 13, set by Michael Garnett (March 15 to April 9, 2006) and Matt Climie (Feb. 8 to March 9, 2013) … Has posted an 8-5-2 record, 2.29 goals-against average, .921 save percentage, and one shutout during the run … Has made his mark as one of the top rookie netminders in the league this season with an 18-11-3 record, 2.37 goals-against average, .914 save percentage, and two shutouts … Ranks among the best in the league and among rookies in GAA (17th; 6th), wins (8th; 3rd), minutes (11th; 4th), and saves (14th; 5th)
— Shane Harper (RW): Added two goals last week — one in each contest — to bump his season total to 23, tied for second in the league (first among active skaters) with San Antonio’s Bobby Butler and Albany’s Paul Thompson … Ranks second on the Wolves with an AHL career-high 36 points (23G, 13A) in 53 games … Tied for second in the AHL with 10 power-play goals and sits first in the league with a 25.3 shooting percentage … Sunday marked just the fourth time this season that the Wolves have lost when he has scored (18-4-0-0)
— Brent Sopel (D): Returned to the lineup on Saturday after missing 12 of the last 13 games with injury … Registered the opening marker on Sunday, his first goal with the Wolves and first in the AHL since the 1999-2000 season with Syracuse … Has contributed eight points (G, 7A), 46 penalty minutes, and a -3 plus/minus rating in 29 games for Chicago this season, his first back in North America since 2010-11 (Montreal and Atlanta) … Captured the 2010 Stanley Cup as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks
— Pat Cannone (C): Sealed Saturday’s win with the overtime tally in 3-on-3 play, accepting a pretty pass from defenseman Joel Edmundson and finishing it on a breakaway with 29 seconds remaining … Additionally collected an assist that game for his 10th multi-point game of the season … Snapped a two-game scoreless streak, the longest he has gone without a point since Dec. 26-30 … Leads the Wolves with 27 assists and 39 points, ranking second on the team and first among forwards with a +13 plus/minus rating … Serves as an alternate captain
— Magnus Paajarvi (LW): Overtook Pat Cannone for the team lead in points per game (0.76) thanks to three assists last weekend, including his second multi-point game with the Wolves on Saturday … Has points in 11 of his last 14 games and has been one of Chicago’s most consistent producers since mid-January … Has contributed 13 points (5G, 8A), a +4 plus/minus rating, and 40 shots on goal in 17 games for the Wolves since being loaned by St. Louis (NHL) on Dec. 30 … Posted one assist in 10 games with the Blues this season
WOLF TRACKS
— Left wing Ben Eager skated in his 200th career AHL game on Saturday.
— Along with the return of Brent Sopel, two other familiar faces were back in the lineup for the Wolves this weekend. Right wing BENN FERRERIO returned Saturday after missing 18 of the last 19 games, picking up an assist on Sunday. Goaltender Matt Climie, sidelined with a lower-body injury, stopped one shot in 5:36 of third-period play Sunday, his first action since Jan. 16.
— After entering the weekend with six players on a season-long iron-man streak, that number has dropped to four following the doubleheader. Rob Bordson was scratched on Saturday and Pat Cannone missed Sunday’s tilt after an awkward hit into the boards the night prior, leaving Shane Harper, Jeremy Welsh, Brent Regner, and Mathieu Brodeur as the last players to have appeared in all 53 games.
— Sunday’s defeat marked the first time this season that the Wolves have led after one period and lost. It ended a team streak of 39 games (March 13, 2013) without a loss and a streak of 52 games (Nov. 28, 2012) without a regulation loss when leading after the first period.
— One of the strongest trends with this season’s Wolves was reversed last weekend as they won Saturday after allowing the first goal and lost Sunday after opening scoring. Chicago is 20-4-1-1 when getting on the board first this season and 7-16-4-0 when surrendering the opening marker.
— Saturday’s overtime win marked the first time this season that the Wolves have won more than one extra-session game consecutively, coming on the heels of Feb. 11’s overtime win against Milwaukee and both thanks to OT winners by Pat Cannone. This season in games that extend beyond regulation, Chicago has gone L-L-W-L-W-L-W-L-L-W-W.
— The Wolves power play has now been shut down (0-for-12) in three consecutive games (four if you include Feb. 13, although they had no power-play opportunities in that contest). This is the second-longest stretch of the season behind a four-game drought from Nov. 22-28 (0-for-16). Chicago ranks fourth in the league at 20.1 percent (41-for-204).
— After starting the month 17-for-18 on the penalty kill and not allowing a power-play goal at home since Jan. 17, the Wolves struggled down a man last weekend as it went a combined 6-for-10. The three power-play goals surrendered on Sunday tied a season high for the team (Dec. 17 vs. Adirondack).
— Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. CT appears to be the Wolves’ bread and butter this season, going 17-7-3-1 on those days. Alternatively, Chicago is 2-6-1-0 on Sundays and 4-8-1-0 in games before 7 p.m.
BOOKS AND WOLVES
Two Wolves continue the 20th season of its Read to Succeed program, presented by Butternut Bread and J.U.L.I.E., Inc., with two visits this week. On Tuesday, Feb. 24, left wing Rob Bordson who attended the University of Minnesota-Duluth, visits the Crystal Lake Public Library at 7 p.m. On Wednesday, Feb. 25, right wing Cody Beach will stop by the Park Ridge Public Library at 4 p.m. For more information, call 1-800-THE-WOLVES or visit ChicagoWolves.com.
WOLVES REWIND (1-1-0-0)
Sunday, Feb. 22
San Antonio 5, (at) Chicago 2
— The Wolves squandered a first-period lead, allowing three second-period goals and three power-play goals as they dropped the final game of the season series to the Rampage at Allstate Arena
— Defenseman Brent Sopel notched his first of the season for the Wolves and right wing Shane Harper extended his team-leading total to 23 with a third-period marker
— Goaltender Jordan Binnington made his franchise-record 15th consecutive regular-season start, stopping 21 of 25 shots. Matt Climie entered the game with less than 10 minutes remaining, making one save in relief.
Saturday, Feb. 21
(at) Chicago 3, San Antonio 2 (OT)
— Defenseman Joel Edmundson’s precise pass led center Pat Cannone on a breakaway that netted the winning goal with 29 seconds left in overtime at Allstate Arena
— Forwards Shane Harper and Jeremy Welsh scored in regulation, with left wing Magnus Paajarvi receiving the primary assist on both goals
— Goaltender Jordan Binnington stopped 31 of 33 shots while setting the franchise record by starting for the 14th consecutive regular-season game
