Tale of the Tape: Nov. 4, 2016 vs. Milwaukee

Friday, Nov. 4 | 7 p.m. | UWM Panther Arena

New Kids on the Block
On Sunday, Oct. 30, rookie wing Samuel Blais recorded his first professional point, assisting on the Wolves’ opening goal against the defending Calder Cup champion Cleveland Monsters in a 4-2 Chicago victory at Allstate Arena. Blais started the tic-tac-toe play that led to Magnus Paajarvi’s second goal in three games since he was loaned to the Wolves by the St. Louis Blues (NHL). Blais has been playing wing with Paajarvi on a line centered by Wade Megan. The trio started all three games over the weekend and combined for 6 points (2G, 4A). Blais is the second Wolves rookie to record points so far this season. Defenseman Vince Dunn led the freshman class and nabbed his first professional point, a goal, on Oct. 15 against the Grand Rapids Griffins. Rookie forward Bryce Gervais — having only played 10 games with the Wolves during the 2015-16 season — recorded his first goal of the season on Sunday, the game winner, at 7:18 of the second period against Cleveland.

Right Back at it Again
Chicago Wolves defenseman Brad Hunt finished last weekend with 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points through three games. A member of the Wolves’ top defensive pair— with team captain Chris Butler — Hunt led all league defensemen in scoring with 10 points and 7 assists before being recalled to the NHL on Wednesday. He also ranked second among AHL blueliners with 3 goals. The 28-year-old has averaged 1.25 points per game through eight contests this season. Hunt’s weekend performance also included 6 shots on goal and a gentlemanly 4 penalty minutes.

One Hunt Above the Rest
Chicago Wolves defenseman Brad Hunt finished last weekend with 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points through three games. A member of the Wolves’ top defensive pair— with team captain Chris Butler — Hunt led all league defensemen in scoring with 10 points and 7 assists before being recalled to the NHL on Wednesday. He also ranked second among AHL blueliners with 3 goals. The 28-year-old has averaged 1.25 points per game through eight contests this season. Hunt’s weekend performance also included 6 shots on goal and a gentlemanly 4 penalty minutes.

BY THE NUMBERS:

• 3: Three Chicago Wolves rookies are still on the hunt for their first AHL point: center Conner Bleackley, wing Mackenzie MacEachern and defenseman Kevin Tansey. Thus far, defenseman Vince Dunn has been the most productive rookie with 5 points (2G, 3A) through seven games, including two multi-point contests (Oct. 15, 29). Dunn recorded his first professional goal on Oct. 15 against the Grand Rapids Griffins at Allstate Arena. Most recently, rookie Samuel Blais registered his first point, an assist, on the Wolves’ opening goal in their 4-2 victory over the defending Calder Cup champion Cleveland Monsters on Oct. 30.

• 4: Wolves right wing Jordan Caron skated in his third game back from injury during Sunday’s 4-2 win over Cleveland. Since his return, Caron has registered 4 assists, 4 shots on goal and 26 penalty minutes. The gritty winger was assessed two misconduct penalties, one Friday and one Saturday, in conjunction with each of his minor penalties. His other two-minute infraction came in Sunday’s game. On Saturday, Caron assisted on Brad Hunt’s 50th career AHL goal early in the first period to open the team’s scoring. He also assisted on Ivan Barbashev’s goal early in the second period and Brett Sterling’s goal in the final five minutes of the game. He again assisted on a Hunt goal during Sunday’s 4-2 victory.

• 150: On Sunday, Chicago Wolves left wing Kenny Agostino skated in his 150th professional hockey game. Through that time, he has 43 goals and 66 assists for 109 points. He has dressed for 10 NHL games and 140 AHL contests. Agostino has twice led his team in scoring. During the 2014-15 season, he led all Adirondack Flames’ players with 43 points and 28 assists, and last season he led the Stockton Heat with 57 points, 34 assists and a 0.88 points-per-game average. With the Wolves, the 24-year-old is second in team scoring with 7 points (4G, 3A) through eight games. Sunday’s 4-2 victory over the Cleveland Monsters was one of two games in which the forward was held scoreless.

• 199: Center Wade Megan’s next game will be his 199th career AHL game; the 26-year-old will be one shy of his 200th AHL game. Through 198 games, the former Boston University Terrier has registered 37 goals and 22 assists for 59 points. During the 2015-16 season, Megan led the league with 7 short-handed goals and tied a Portland Pirates franchise record with his fifth short-handed goal of the season on March 23 against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He broke the 13-year-old franchise record with his sixth shortie of the season on March 26 versus the Springfield Falcons. In his first season with the Wolves, Megan has 5 points through eight games, including the team’s lone short-handed marker. He also stands as the only Chicago skater with a multi-goal game this season.  

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FOLLOW THE ACTION

Friday’s game begins at 7 p.m. on The U Too. 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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