The Chicago Wolves collected a win on Sunday against Milwaukee to rebound from a 5-0 loss to Grand Rapids on Saturday, the team’s largest margin of defeat this season, and salvage a weekend split. The Midwest Division competition continues as the Wolves travel to Cleveland for a two-game set against the Lake Erie Monsters. As Chicago attempts to regain its playoff spot (one point behind No. 8 Texas with one game in hand), the Monsters are four points behind the Wolves with one game in hand but host Milwaukee on Wednesday. The postseason race remains tight as just five points separates Nos. 7-11 in the Western Conference (Hamilton, Texas, Chicago, Adirondack, and Toronto, respectively).
THIS WEEK:
Fri., March 6
at Lake Erie Monsters
Quicken Loans Arena
6:30 p.m.
Sun., March 8
at Lake Erie Monsters
Quicken Loans Arena
2 p.m.
GAMES WILL BE TELECAST LIVE ON AHLLIVE
Log on to chicagowolves.com for broadcast schedule, or to watch or listen to the action live online
BOUNCE BACK
The Chicago Wolves collected a win on Sunday against Milwaukee to rebound from a 5-0 loss to Grand Rapids on Saturday, the team’s largest margin of defeat this season, and salvage a weekend split. The Midwest Division competition continues as the Wolves travel to Cleveland for a two-game set against the Lake Erie Monsters. As Chicago attempts to regain its playoff spot (one point behind No. 8 Texas with one game in hand), the Monsters are four points behind the Wolves with one game in hand but host Milwaukee on Wednesday. The postseason race remains tight as just five points separates Nos. 7-11 in the Western Conference (Hamilton, Texas, Chicago, Adirondack, and Toronto, respectively).
WOLVES HEADLINERS
— Shane Harper (RW): Scored goals No. 24 and 25 on Sunday to take sole possession of second in the AHL and first among active skaters … Needs one more goal to double his previous AHL career season high (13, set in 2011-12 and 2013-14) … Ranks second on the Wolves with an AHL career-high 38 points (25G, 13A), an even plus/minus rating, and 10 penalty minutes in 55 games … Tied for second in the league in power-play goals (10), sits first in shooting percentage (25.0) and first in active road point streaks (8 games, 12 points) … The Wolves hold a 19-4-0-0 record when he scores
— Jordan Binnington (G): Continued to be the go-to guy in net for the Wolves, appearing in both games to extend his regular-season consecutive start streak to 17, four more than the previous franchise record … Has posted a 9-6-2 record, 2.31 goals-against average, .920 save percentage, and one shutout in that span … In 34 games this season, has compiled a 19-12-3 record, 2.37 goals-against average,.914 save percentage, and two shutouts for the Wolves … Ranks among the best in the league and among rookies in GAA (16th; 6th), wins (8th; 3rd), minutes (10th; 3rd), and saves (15th; 5th)
— Yannick Veilleux (LW): Notched the final goal for the Wolves in Sunday’s win, giving him five of his six tallies this season at Allstate Arena … Has three points (2G, A) in his last eight games after breaking a 23-game point drought … Has contributed eight points (6G, 2A) in 46 games and ranks third on the Wolves with 70 penalty minutes … Is in his first full season in the AHL, having previously spent brief stints with Chicago last season (4GP, 0-1-1) and Peoria in 2012-13 (8GP, 2-1-3) … Racked up 39 points (26G, 13A) in 62 games with Kalamazoo (ECHL) last season
— Adam Burish (RW): Opened scoring for the Wolves on Sunday, helping to force a turnover and combining with Ty Rattie and Philip McRae to get Chicago on the board 5:03 into the contest … Has registered 11 points (5G, 6A) and an even plus/minus rating in 18 games with the Wolves after recording seven points (4G, 3A) and a -6 plus/minus rating in 18 games with Worcester … Has 10 points in 12 games since a multi-point effort on Jan. 30, not being held scoreless for consecutive contests in that stretch … Loaned to the Wolves by San Jose on Jan. 14
WOLF TRACKS
— Right wing Adam Cracknell made his Wolves season debut last weekend, playing both games. The returning Chicago forward posted four shots and a -1 plus/minus rating in the contests while playing on the team’s top two lines.
— Two players returned to the Wolves lineup this weekend as center Colin Fraser and defenseman Jake Chelios hit the ice. FRASER, an alternate captain, was in the lineup for the first time since Jan. 21 due to injury while CHELIOS appeared in his first game since Feb. 3.
— The Wolves have even or winning season series records against 10 of the 13 teams they have faced this season, with the exceptions being Adirondack (0-2), Lake Erie (2-3), and Texas (0-2). Chicago still has a chance to earn the edge against the Monsters and a split with Texas, while the slate against the Flames has already ended.
— As the Wolves return to the road this week their power-play units will look to snap out of a slump. Chicago notched just one man-advantage marker in 20 chances during its seven-game homestand, with the lone conversion coming in the first game of the stretch on Feb. 11. The Wolves’ road power play ranks first in the league at 24.8 percent (28-for-113).
— A three-goal second period fueled Chicago in its win over Milwaukee on Sunday and continues to be the team’s best frame this season. The Wolves are tied for fourth in the AHL with a +12 goal differential in the second period as opposed to -7 in the first (22nd in the league) and +8 in the third period (ninth in the league).
— The Wolves rank third in the AHL in shots allowed per game at 27.58. If the team maintains a shots-surrendered average below 28 this season, it will be the first time in franchise history. The previous season-low was 28.21 (2005-06).
— Chicago is one of four teams (Adirondack, Rochester, Utica) who are undefeated this season when leading after two periods, going 22-0-0-0. The Wolves have not lost when leading through 40 minutes in 39 straight games and have gone 56 without a loss in regulation.
— Despite strong play when holding the lead, the Wolves remain as the lone team not to post a win when trailing after two periods (0-20-2-1).
— The Wolves suffered their largest margin of defeat this season on Saturday in a 5-0 loss to Grand Rapids. It tied the team’s season high for most goals allowed in a game (with four of eight instances having come against the Griffins) and was its fourth shutout against in 2014-15.
READING RAINBOW
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 Wednesday, March 4, left wing Terry Broadhurst will make stops at the Bridgeview and Orland Park Public Libraries. The University of Nebraska-Omaha alum will make his first appearance at 4 p.m. before visiting his hometown library at 7 p.m. For more information, call 1-800-THE-WOLVES or visit ChicagoWolves.com.
WOLVES REWIND (1-1-0-0)
Sunday, March 1
(at) Chicago 4, Milwaukee 1
— The Wolves used three unanswered goals in the second period to take the lead in the Amtrak Rivalry series at Allstate Arena
— Right wing Shane Harper notched his 24th and 25th goals of the season while wingers Adam Burish and Yannick Veilleux rounded out the scoring
— Goaltender Jordan Binnington continued his regular-season franchise-record 17-game consecutive start streak, stopping 21 shots to snap a two-game losing streak
Saturday, Feb. 28
Grand Rapids 5, (at) Chicago 0
— Grand Rapids extended its winning streak to eight games as it withstood an early assault to wear down Chicago at Allstate Arena
— The Wolves went 0-for-3 on the power play while giving up their first short-handed goal at home this season
— Goaltender Jordan Binnington started for the 16th consecutive game and stopped 24 of 27 in the first two periods while Matt Climie stopped five of seven shots in the third
