The Chicago Wolves salvaged one point from the weekend, getting swept in two games in Lake Erie but taking the Monsters to overtime on Friday. The team returns to Allstate Arena this week for the first three games of a tough four-game homestand against Utica (twice) and Rockford, the Western Conference’s No. 3 and 4 teams, respectively. Chicago will need to earn some points if it hopes to climb back into the playoff race, dropping to the No. 10 seed over the weekend. The Wolves are in a five-team battle for the final two spots as Hamilton, Texas, Adirondack, Chicago, and Toronto (Nos. 7-11) are all separated by just two points. The Wolves have the third-best points percentage and the most home games remaining of those five teams, but face difficult competition.
THIS WEEK:
Wed., March 11*
vs. Utica Comets
Allstate Arena
7 p.m.
Sat., March 14*
vs. Utica Comets
Allstate Arena
7 p.m.
Sun., March 15**
vs. Rockford IceHogs$
Allstate Arena
3 p.m.
*U-Too
**WCIU Ch. 26
$Illinois Lottery Cup 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
BUMP IN THE ROAD
The Chicago Wolves salvaged one point from the weekend, getting swept in two games in Lake Erie but taking the Monsters to overtime on Friday. The team returns to Allstate Arena this week for the first three games of a tough four-game homestand against Utica (twice) and Rockford, the Western Conference’s No. 3 and 4 teams, respectively. Chicago will need to earn some points if it hopes to climb back into the playoff race, dropping to the No. 10 seed over the weekend. The Wolves are in a five-team battle for the final two spots as Hamilton, Texas, Adirondack, Chicago, and Toronto (Nos. 7-11) are all separated by just two points. The Wolves have the third-best points percentage and the most home games remaining of those five teams, but face difficult competition.
WOLVES HEADLINERS
— Brendan Bell (D): Notched two points in his Wolves debut on Friday, collecting one goal and one assist … Is the third Wolves player this season (Colin Fraser & Jeremy Welsh, Oct. 11) to score in his team debut, first defenseman since Joe Corvo (March 8, 2014), first Wolves player with a multi-point debut since Steve Reinprecht (Nov. 26, 2011), and first Wolves defenseman with a multi-point debut since Braydon Coburn (Oct. 28, 2005) … Paces Wolves defensemen, and sits sixth overall on the team, with 25 points (2G, 23A) in 49 games … Acquired by the Wolves from Norfolk (AHL) on March 3
— Matt Climie (G): Made his first start since Jan. 16 on Sunday, stopping 24 of 25 shots in the outing that resulted in a 1-0 loss … Saw no game action from Jan. 16 to Feb. 22 due to injury … Has accrued a 9-10-3 record, 2.36 goals-against average, .911 save percentage, and two shutouts in 26 games for the Wolves this season, his fourth with the team … Ranks second or tied for second in every category for Wolves all-time netminders, including games played (134), shutouts (9), saves (3,501), assists (5), wins (64), and minutes (7,744)
— Jordan Binnington (G): Concluded his franchise-record 18-game regular-season consecutive start streak on Friday, finishing the stretch that spanned from Jan. 17 to March 6 with a 9-6-3 record, 2.39 goals-against average, .918 save percentage, and one shutout … Overall has accrued a 19-12-4 mark, 2.42 goals-against average, .913 save percentage, and two shutouts in 35 games in his first full AHL season … Ranks among the best in the league and among rookies in GAA (19th; 8th), wins (8th; 3rd), minutes (10th; 4th), and saves (15th; 4th)
— Brent Regner (D): Dished out two assists on Friday, his fourth multi-point game of the season and first since Dec. 26 … Ranks second on the Wolves and second among defensemen (behind BELL) with 23 points (5G, 18A) in 57 games … Leads the squad and is tied for eighth in the league with a +20 plus/minus rating … On pace to match his AHL career high of 31 points, which he set in 75 games in 2011-12 with Springfield … Serves as team captain
WOLF TRACKS
— With the recall of Grand Rapids’ Teemu Pulkkinen, Wolves right wing Shane Harper takes over sole possession of first in the AHL for goals among active skaters (25).
— Right wing Adam Cracknell collected his first point of the season for the Wolves with an assist Friday. He also launched eight shots in the tilt, the most in one game by a Wolves player this season.
— Both Adam Burish and Yannick Veilleux notched goals on Friday, giving them tallies in back-to-back contests. That extends BURISH’s stretch of 11 points in his last 14 games and VEILLEUX’s recent offensive production with three goals and four points in 10 games.
— After logging his 11th fight of the year on Friday, right wing Cody Beach is hovering at 199 penalty minutes on the season, second-most in the league. If he reaches 200, he will be the first Wolves player to do so since Andre Deveaux (232) in 2007-08.
— The Wolves’ loss to Lake Erie on Sunday was the first time the team has dropped a 1-0 regulation decision since Jan. 15, 2011, versus Rockford.
— Chicago went 4-for-4 on the penalty kill on Sunday, the first time the team has put forth a perfect effort while down a man since Feb. 15, a span of five games. The Wolves allowed two goals on seven chances on Friday and rank 17th in the league at 82.8 percent (169-for-204).
— The Wolves snapped a six-game slump without a power-play goal on Friday, burying a man-advantage marker on their first chance. The team has gone 42-for-216 (19.4 percent, 5th) this season and is one goal away from tying its output last season (43-for-342, 30th).
— Chicago is tied for the fifth-fewest power plays in the league this season at 216. Only Rockford, Toronto, Lake Erie, and Iowa have had fewer while Binghamton also sits at 216.
— The Wolves have dropped seven games in extra time this season (six overtime, one shootout). Of these seven, six have come against Midwest Division opponents (Milwaukee twice, Rockford twice, Grand Rapids, Lake Erie).
— Friday’s 4-3 overtime loss was just the fourth time (of 29 total) this season that the Wolves have lost when scoring more than two goals.
— Chicago tied its season high for shots in a game (44) and shots in a period (18) in Friday’s tilt.
— The Wolves rallied twice to earn a point on Friday but could not pull off the win. It marked the fourth time this season (0-21-3-1) that the team has garnered a point when trailing after two periods.
— If it is a close game, the Wolves want to be in their own barn. The team is 7-1-3-1 in one-goal games at Allstate Arena and 2-8-3-0 in one-goal games on the road.
ONE LAST TIME
Two Wolves close out the 20th season of their Read to Succeed program, presented by Butternut Bread and J.U.L.I.E., Inc., with one visit this week. On Tuesday, March 10, defenseman Joel Edmundson will visit the Bartlett Public Library at 7 p.m. For more information, call 1-800-THE-WOLVES or visit ChicagoWolves.com.
WOLVES REWIND (0-1-1-0)
Sunday, March 8
(at) Lake Erie 1, Chicago 0
— The Wolves allowed a first-period marker and that was all the Monsters needed to complete the four-game season road sweep of the Wolves at Quicken Loans Arena
— Chicago was without top forwards Pat Cannone, Ty Rattie, and Magnus Paajarvi due to injury and could not solve goaltender Calvin Pickard, who made 34 saves
— Goaltender Matt Climie made his first start since Jan. 16, turning away 24 of 25 shots in the contest
Friday, March 6
(at) Lake Erie 4, Chicago 3 (OT)
— The Wolves rallied twice in the third period but surrendered the game-winning power-play goal 4:28 into overtime at Quicken Loans Arena, dropping their fourth straight to Lake Erie
— Defenseman Brendan Bell posted two points (G, A) in his Wolves debut while wingers Adam Burish and Yannick Veilleux contributed the other tallies and defenseman Brent Regner added two assists
— Goaltender Jordan Binnington started his franchise-record 18th consecutive game, turning away 30 of 34 shots in regulation and overtime
