Tale of the Tape: Oct. 28, 2016 at Rockford

Friday, Oct. 28 | 7 p.m. | Rockford

Shipping Up to Chicago
Center Justin Selman was recently reassigned to the Chicago Wolves from the Missouri Mavericks (ECHL) by the St. Louis Blues (NHL). The Wolves also recalled defenseman Gus Young from loan to Missouri. Both skated with the Wolves during training camp earlier this month before being reassigned and loaned, respectively, to Missouri. Following the conclusion of the 2015-16 college hockey season, Selman turned pro and appeared in seven games with the Wolves. He tallied two points (G, A). Young, in his second professional season, dressed for 68 games with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) last year and registered 16 points (3G, 13A).

Top Dunn
Rookie defenseman Vince Dunn is quickly, and quietly, showing his skill set. Through his first five professional games, he has three points (G, 2A) which is good enough to tie for second in team scoring and to lead all club rookies. He’s also third is scoring and fifth in shots among all AHL first-year blueliners. His latest point came in Sunday’s 2-1 victory over the San Antonio Rampage. Dunn’s initial shot from the left point was redirected by Wade Megan at the top of the crease for a tap-in goal by Brett Sterling into a wide-open net.

Here Comes the Boom
The next game third-year defenseman Petteri Lindbohm (LIHND-boom) plays will mark his 100th American Hockey League contest. Through 99 games, the 23-year-old has 9 goals and 20 assists for 29 points. He has accrued 114 penalty minutes. Lindbohm has also spent parts of the previous two seasons in the National Hockey League, skating in 33 games for the St. Louis Blues.

Going Back-to-Back
Friday night is the first of 12 meetings between the Chicago Wolves and their in-state rival, the Rockford IceHogs. The game also marks the beginning of the chase for the Illinois Lottery Cup. The Cup champion is based on wins — with the tiebreaker being total points — in head-to-head games. Chicago claimed the Cup in 2013-14 on its way to the AHL’s Midwest Division title. However, last season Rockford took home the Cup with a 7-2-3-0 record against the Wolves.

BY THE NUMBERS

• 48: The number of wins the Wolves have against their in-state rival, the Rockford IceHogs, since the two teams began competing in 2007. Chicago joined the American Hockey League in 2001 when the International Hockey League folded and six teams (including the Wolves) merged into the AHL. The IceHogs started as a United Hockey League team in 1999, but became an AHL franchise in 2007. The 2016-17 season will be 10th season the Illinois foes have faced off in AHL competition.

• 2: So far during the 2016-17 season, the Wolves do their best work during the second period. Through five games, the Wolves have scored six of their 10 goals in the middle frame. Veteran winger Brett Sterling also has taken advantage of those 20 minutes with both of his goals coming in the second stanza. Ironically, it’s also the team’s lowest-volume period in terms of shots; they have red 41 shots on opposing goaltenders. In the first and second periods, the Wolves have put 48 and 44 shots, respectively, on net.

• 3: The Chicago Wolves and Rockford IceHogs face off in the first of a dozen meetings during the 2016-17 season. Since 2011, the team with the best head-to-head record through that batch of games earns bragging rights and the title of Illinois Lottery Cup champion. The Wolves have won one of the first five Cups (the Peoria Rivermen also were part of the Cup competition in its first two years). The IceHogs claimed last year’s Cup with a 7-2-3-0 record.

• 166: Since the inception of the Illinois Lottery Cup in 2011, the Wolves have netted 166 goals to the Rockford IceHogs’ 164 to hold a slight edge in head-to-head scoring. Through five seasons, the two teams have battled 60 times, and the Wolves have a 28-27-2-3 record over that period. The Wolves have played better at home versus their familiar foe; 18 of their 28 victories have been secured at Allstate Arena in Rosemont.

• 350: On Sunday (Oct. 23), center Landon Ferraro played his 350th professional hockey game when the Wolves emerged victorious against the San Antonio Rampage at AT&T Center in San Antonio. Through six professional seasons, Ferarro has played a combined 350 NHL and AHL games. He also has accumulated 154 points (81 goals and 73 assists). Ferraro’s NHL stints include the Detroit Red Wings — the franchise that drafted him — and the Boston Bruins. In the AHL, the 25-year-old has spent time with Chicago and the Grand Rapids Griffins. Ferraro was a key contributor to the Griffins’ 2013 Calder Cup championship. He tallied 16 points (5G, 11A) through 24 playoff games for Grand Rapids en route to the league title. Ferraro was held scoreless in his 350th professional appearance, although he is tied for second in team scoring with three points (3A). He also has been one of the Wolves’ top centermen, one of only five players with a faceoff percentage greater than 50 percent.

Recent Games Recap

Saturday, Oct. 22 Chicago 4, (at) San Antonio 2

FOLLOW THE ACTION

Friday night’s game begins at 7:00 p.m. on The U Too presented by the Illinois Office of Tourism. The U Too is found over the air at WCIU-DT 26.2. Cable subscribers get the channel on Xfinity 230 and 360, RCN 35 and WOW 170 while Dish Network customers find the games on Ch. 48.

Complete broadcast schedule; all games stream live on AHLLive.com

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