The Chicago Wolves enter the second-to-last week of the season with a league-high seven games remaining and magic number of 11 to secure a postseason berth. Following big wins in Toronto and Hamilton last week, both teams that are fighting for one of the final seeds, the Wolves saw their seven-game win streak snapped at the hands of the Texas Stars on Saturday. The team has the chance to rebound quickly as they host Lake Erie tonight before closing out the season with Friday/Saturday/Sunday three-in-three sets this weekend and next. Chicago (79 points/69 games) leads a group of six squads battling for the No. 7 and 8 positions in the Western Conference, with Milwaukee (79/71), Hamilton (76/70), Toronto (75/69), Adirondack (74/69), and Lake Erie (74/69) still in contention.
THIS WEEK:
Tue., April 7*
vs. Lake Erie Monsters
Allstate Arena
7 p.m.
Fri., April 10*
at Milwaukee Admirals#
Bradley Center
7 p.m.
Sat., April 11*
vs. Oklahoma City Barons
Allstate Arena
7 p.m.
Sun., April 12*
vs. Iowa Wild
Allstate Arena
4 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
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
The Chicago Wolves enter the second-to-last week of the season with a league-high seven games remaining and magic number of 11 to secure a postseason berth. Following big wins in Toronto and Hamilton last week, both teams that are fighting for one of the final seeds, the Wolves saw their seven-game win streak snapped at the hands of the Texas Stars on Saturday. The team has the chance to rebound quickly as they host Lake Erie tonight before closing out the season with Friday/Saturday/Sunday three-in-three sets this weekend and next. Chicago (79 points/69 games) leads a group of six squads battling for the No. 7 and 8 positions in the Western Conference, with Milwaukee (79/71), Hamilton (76/70), Toronto (75/69), Adirondack (74/69), and Lake Erie (74/69) still in contention.
WOLVES HEADLINERS
— Magnus Paajarvi (LW): Posted six points in three games last week, including the game-winning marker Wednesday at Toronto and four points (2G, 2A) Thursday at Hamilton … Became the first player since Brett Sterling (April 2, 2013, at San Antonio) to tally four points in a game … Currently riding a three-game point streak (3G, 3A) … Leads the Wolves in points-per-game pace (0.80) with 24 (11G, 13A), a +6 plus/minus rating, and 72 shots in 30 games … Skated in his 100th AHL game Wednesday … Accrued one assist, a -2 plus/minus rating, and six penalty minutes in 10 games with St. Louis (NHL) this season prior to being loaned to the Wolves on Dec. 30
— Pat Cannone (C): Collected five points in three games, highlighted by a three-point night (G, 2A) at Hamilton … Has recorded seven points (G, 6A) in six games, including two multi-point outings, since rejoining the lineup March 27 following a month-long recovery from injury … Paces the Wolves with 32 assists, ranks fourth with 13 goals, and second with 46 points and a 0.79 points-per-game rate … Leads forwards and is second overall on the team with a +12 plus/minus rating … Has already set AHL career highs in assists and points this season … Notched his 150th AHL point with an assist on Saturday … Serves as an alternate captain
— Shane Harper (RW): Hit the 30-goal mark with his game-winner on Thursday and contributed three points (G, 2A) overall last week … Gives the Wolves 30-goal scorers in back-to-back seasons (Ty Rattie, 31, 2013-14) for the first time since 2006-07 and 2007-08 … Snapped a four-game goal drought, his longest since November … Leads the Wolves in goals (30) and points (47) in 69 games … Ranks third in the league (second among active skaters) in goals, first in shooting percentage (23.3), and is tied for fifth in power-play goals (10) … Leads the league with nine game-winning goals, one off from tying the Wolves franchise record
— Brent Regner (D): Handed out assists Wednesday and Thursday last week to give him four in six games since returning from injury … Ranks as the Wolves’ second-leading scorer among defensemen with 27 points (5G, 22A) in 65 games … Leads the Wolves and is tied for 11th in the league with a +21 plus/minus rating … Is four points away from tying his AHL career high of 31 (2G, 29A), set in 75 games with Springfield in 2011-12 … Serves as captain
WOLF TRACKS
— Right wing Sebastian Wannstrom notched a third-period goal Saturday against the Stars, his first tally since Oct. 31 and a span of 25 games.
— The Wolves’ young defensemen chipped in points this week as Joel Edmundson lit the lamp Wednesday at Toronto, Petteri Lindbohm dished out an assist Thursday at Hamilton, Jani Hakanpaa handed out helpers on both Thursday and Saturday, and Colton Parayko buried a one-timer against Texas on Saturday.
— Goaltender Matt Climie stopped 31 of 33 shots Thursday against Hamilton, extending his personal win streak to four games. It is his longest since Jan. 6-16, 2013.
— The team’s seven-game win streak was the best since February 2010. In 425:30 total minutes of hockey during the run, they trailed for only 13:34.
— The Wolves took no penalties on Thursday, tying a franchise record. It was the fourth game in team history in which the Wolves have skated whistle-free, with two of those coming this season (Jan. 21 at Grand Rapids, April 2 at Hamilton).
— Thursday’s game also featured just two combined penalty minutes for both teams, tying a franchise record. It is the sixth time in team history and third time this season (Jan. 21 at Grand Rapids, Feb. 13 vs. Oklahoma City, April 2 at Hamilton).
— The Wolves’ power play continued to be hot last week and has converted 33.3 percent (6-for-18) since March 27. Prior to that the man-advantage unit suffered a dry streak, posting a success rate of 4.3 percent (2-for-46) from Feb. 13 to March 22.
— The Wolves surrendered a power-play goal to Texas on Saturday in their lone opportunity of the night, snapping a stretch of four consecutive games with a perfect PK. The team is 10-for-11 (90.9 percent) in its past five games.
— Chicago won three consecutive games in regulation from March 29 to April 2, its first time accomplishing that since Dec. 21-26.
— The Wolves’ 18 shots at Toronto were a season low, edging the 19 recorded Nov. 12 at Utica. Despite the output, Chicago won both games.
— The six goals allowed by the Wolves on Saturday were the most all season. The last time the team allowed six-plus was May 2 against Rochester in the 2014 Calder Cup Playoffs, and last time during the regular season was March 30, 2014, at Rockford.
— The Wolves are one of three teams in the AHL (Hamilton and Milwaukee) to post a negative goal differential at home (-15) and positive goal differential on the road (+27).
WOLVES REWIND (2-1-0-0)
Saturday, April 4
Texas 6, (at) Chicago 2
— The Stars broke open a 1-1 game with two goals in the second period and three in the final frame, including two empty-net markers, at Allstate Arena to sweep the season series against Chicago
— Defenseman Colton Parayko and right wing Sebastian Wannstrom tallied for the Wolves
— Goaltender Jordan Binnington kicked out 23 of 27 shots
Thursday, April 2
Chicago 4, (at) Hamilton 2
— The Wolves launched 40 shots on the Bulldogs and received multi-point games from all three players on their top line as they collected a critical two points at the FirstOntario Centre
— Left wing Magnus Paajarvi led the way with four points (2G, 2A) while linemates Pat Cannone (G, 2A) and Shane Harper (G, A) rounded out the scoring
— Goaltender Matt Climie stopped 31 shots for his fourth straight win
Wednesday, April 1
Chicago 2, (at) Toronto 1
— The Wolves shrugged off an early goal by the Marlies to score twice in the first period and secure a crucial win at Ricoh Coliseum
— Defenseman Joel Edmundson and forward Magnus Paajarvi scored for Chicago, with PAAJARVI’s power-play goal holding up for nearly 43 minutes as the game-winner
—– Goaltender Jordan Binnington rejected 27 of 28 shots for the win
