Friday, March 18, 7:00 p.m. Allstate Arena
Chicago begins a 3-in-3 weekend starting tonight with an Illinois Lottery Cup game at Allstate Arena. The home-and-hone series shifts to Rockford tomorrow night before the Wolves host Milwaukee in an Amtrak Rivalry game on Sunday.
The home team has won 8 of 9 games in this year’s Illinois Lottery Cup series.
It’s been nearly a month since the Illinois Lottery Cup rivals last played with the IceHogs recording a 4-2 win on Feb. 20. Tanner Kero broke a 2-2 tie with 5:08 left in regulation and Dane Walters added an empty netter as the IceHogs clinched the Illinois Lottery Cup for 2015-16.
This year’s series has produced its share of physicality with the teams combining for 151 penalty and 506 penalty minutes. The Dec. 19 encounter alone, generated 35 total penalties for 132 PIMs. At other times, the series has been more civil – only 6 total penalties for 12 PIMs during the Jan. 30 meeting and just 7 whistles for 14 PIMs on Jan. 2.
The IceHogs did the Wolves a favor on Tuesday night, knocking off Charlotte, 1-0. That leaves the Wolves eight points behind the team they’re chasing (Charlotte) for a possible Calder Cup “crossover” playoff berth. There are still 28 more points available for Chicago as 14 games remain on the docket.
By The Numbers
24: Defenseman JÉRÉMIE BLAIN turns 24 years old tomorrow.
196: Career points for PAT CANNONE, who need just 4 more to reach 200 for his AHL career. Only ANDRE BENOIT (203) has more career AHL points on the Wolves squad.
.783: Chicago’s winning percentage when scoring the game’s first goal. The Wolves are 17-4-2-0 when they strike first, but have accomplished that feat just once in their last 10 games.
Follow The Action
Today’s game begins at 7:00 p.m. and can be seen on WCIU The U Too and streamed on www.ahllive.com. Those away from a TV or computer can follow @Chicago_Wolves or @ChiWolvesLive on Twitter for live in-game play-by-play.
