Home Cooking
The Wolves open the 2015-16 season by playing six of seven games at home. Chicago travels to Rockford on October 23 for its road opener and lone away contest of the month. Extensive travel begins in November with a stretch of five straight road games.
This Week
Friday, Oct. 16&
vs. Texas Stars
Allstate Arena
7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 17*
vs. Charlotte Checkers
Allstate Arena
7 p.m.
&D2 Channel 7.2
*The U Too (26.2)
Games will be telecast live on The U Too or WCIU, The U or D2 Channel 7.2
Visit ChicagoWolves.com for broadcast schedule, or to watch or listen to the action live online
WOLVES HEADLINERS
- Ty Rattie: Coming off back-to-back 20-goal campaigns, Rattie jump-started his third season with the Wolves with a pair of goals in Saturday’s opener … struck twice on the power play in a span of 10 minutes, 20 seconds … provided the secondary assist on Pat Cannone‘s game-winning goal … with 132 AHL games under his belt, is closing in on 100 career points (needs 7) … was part of the last batch of players to join the team, arriving on loan Oct. 5.
- Andre Benoit: Brought in for his defense, Benoit dished three assists and placed three shots on goal in the season opener … received No. 2 Star of the Game honors … named an alternate captain, along with his defensive partner, Peter Harrold.
- Magnus Paajarvi: Paajarvi arrived in town on Oct. 5 and promptly earned a spot on the top line … the left wing tallied the Wolves’ first goal of the season, striking just 5:48 into the first period on Saturday … he also assisted on the game-winning goal and launched four shots on goal … Paajarvi made the most of his time in a Wolves uniform last year, scoring in nearly a third of his games (11 goals in 36 contests).
- Jordan Binnington: Binnington stopped 16 shots and shut down all three Milwaukee power-play opportunities in a 5-1 season-opening win … in the process, he improved to 8-0-0 all-time against the Admirals … Binnington’s 33 wins last season were second-most by a Wolves rookie goaltender … he is the featured cover story in the latest issue of Breakaway, the team’s official magazine.
WOLF TRACKS
- The five goals the Wolves scored on Saturday marked their highest total in a home opener since the 2002-03 season.
- The Wolves have won their last four home openers and their last four season openers.
- Special teams factored heavily in Saturday’s 5-1 win over Milwaukee. The Wolves converted on four of seven power play attempts, while killing off all three short-handed situations. The four PPGs were the most by the team since November 27, 2010.
- The Wolves face two teams this week that have produced varying degrees of success. Chicago has excelled against Charlotte, posting a 13-5-2-0 all-time record, including a 3-0-1-0 mark last season. Wins against Texas have been more elusive, as the Wolves are 9-18-2-1 after being swept in the four-game series last year.
- There’s plenty of hardware to be claimed as the Wolves set their sights on a third Calder Cup Championship. Along the way, Chicago hopes to secure possession of the following trophies: the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy (awarded to the regular season points champion); the Sam Pollock Trophy (presented to the Central Division champion); the Norman R. (Bud) Poile Trophy (granted to the Western Conference regular-season champion); and the Robert W. Clarke Trophy (given to the Western Conference playoff champion).
WOLVES REWIND (1-0-0-0)
- Saturday, Oct. 10 (at) Chicago 5, Milwaukee 1
- The Wolves received power-play goals from left wing Magnus Paajarvi, center Pat Cannone and right wing Ty Rattie in the first period and never looked back during their 22nd season opener with a 5-1 Amtrak Rivalry win over Milwaukee at Allstate Arena
- RATTIE (2G, A) delivered another power-play goal, forward Jacob Doty also scored and defenseman Andre Benoit added 3 assists
- Goaltender Jordan Binnington stopped 16 of 17 shots to earn the win
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
The season opener marked the professional debut of three Wolves: defensemen Tommy Vannelli and Jordan Schmaltz, along with forward Ivan Barbashev. All three draft picks were chosen in the first two rounds of the NHL Entry Draft. Vannelli applied his trade in the Western Hockey League (WHL) the past two seasons and is a second-round draft pick. Barbashev also went in the second round and spent three seasons skating in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Schmaltz, chosen 25th overall, recently completed a three-year stint in the NCAA ranks at North Dakota.
