Tale of the Tape: Nov. 9, 2016 at Milwaukee

Wednesday, Nov. 9 | 10:30 a.m. | UWM Panther Arena

Hot Shot
Ivan Barbashev is the Wolves’ leading goal-scorer with 5 goals through 10 games, and the second-year pro notched two of those markers in Saturday’s 4-2 victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins in the team’s first win against their Great Lake rival this season. Barbashev’s first tally of the game came at the 16:40 mark of the first period when Jordan Caron shielded the puck from a Griffins defender behind the Grand Rapids net and dished a pass to Barbashev waiting at the top of the crease for a one-timer. His second goal happened during the third period at 12:20 when Caron and Danny Kristo set up Barbashev for a wrist shot from mid-left circle for the 3-2 go-ahead marker. The shot was so hot the puck got lodged in the goal netting. After the officials spent three minutes attempting unsuccessfully to dislodge the puck, the Grand Rapids ice crew cut the puck free and patched the net. The 20-year-old earned first-star status for his performance.

Rookies Rising
Rookie Samuel Blais continued to tally points this weekend, including his first professional goal on Saturday, Nov. 5, in the 4-2 Wolves win over their Great Lake rival, the Grand Rapids Griffins. The only rookie to appear all 10 games this season for the Wolves, Blais has logged significant ice time playing on a line with fellow wing Magnus Paajarvi and centerman Wade Megan. The trio have started four of the last five games and accounted for 9 points (4G, 5A) in those contests. Blais is just the second Wolves rookie this season to net his first professional goal; defenseman Vince Dunn notched his first pro marker in his first game on Oct. 15 against the Grand Rapids Griffins at Allstate Arena. Dunn is the Wolves’ leading rookie point-getter with 6 points (G, 5A) through nine games.

One Up, One Down
On Monday, the Chicago Wolves announced that right wing Ty Rattie has joined the team on loan from the St. Louis Blues (NHL) for the first time this season. Rattie is no stranger to Chicago, having spend the majority of the past three seasons in the Wolves lineup. During the 2016-17 campaign, the 23-year-old finished third in team scoring with 46 points (17G, 29A) despite missing 14 AHL games due to time spent in the NHL. Rattie is one of only two — the other is left wing Brett Sterling at No. 5 — active players on the Wolves Top-35 all-time scoring list. His 136 points ranks him No. 19, directly behind Joey Crabb (55–84—139). Defenseman Petteri Lindbohm is no longer skating with the team as he was recalled from loan by St. Louis on Monday. The 23-year-old Finland native is expected to replace former Wolves player Joel Edmundson, who was placed on IR, in the Blues lineup.

BY THE NUMBERS:

• 4: Center Ivan Barbashev is on a four-game point streak with 3 goals and 4 assists for 7 points in those games. The 20-year-old contributed two goals in the Wolves’ last game, a 4-2 win over the Grand Rapids Griffins at Van Andel Arena. Barbashev showed good chemistry with linemates Jordan Caron (2A) and Danny Kristo (A). The line finished the contest with 5 points (2G, 3A) and a combined +6 plus/minus rating. Barbashev’s shot was so fast on his second goal, the Wolves’ 3-2 go-ahead marker, that the puck got lodged in the goal netting. After the officials tried to remove the puck, the Grand Rapids ice crew has to cut the puck loose and patch the net. He was named the game’s first star for his efforts. The Russia native is ranked fifth, tied with Northbrook, Illinois native J.T. Compher, among league skaters with a 35.7 shooting percentage. No other Wolves player has a shooting percentage above 20 percent.

• 5: Wing Kenny Agostino has recorded 5 of his 8 points this season on the power play. The 24-year-old has been playing on a power-play unit with center Landon Ferraro, fellow wing Magnus Paajarvi, defenseman Chris Butler and  his partner Brad Hunt. Of the forwards’ points, Ferraro and Paajarvi have each registered a goal and an assist on the man advantage, while Agostino has logged 3 goals and 2 assists. Hunt, the team’s leading scorer, has five power-play assists through 10 games.

• 11: Defenseman Brad Hunt registered his team-leading 11th point in Saturday’s 4-2 victory of the Grand Rapids Griffins at Van Andel Arena. The 28-year-old also leads with the Wolves with 8 assists through 10 games. He and defensive partner, captain Chris Butler, also led the offensive charge in the Wolves’ 4-2 win over the defending Calder Cup champion Cleveland Monsters on Oct. 30. Each blueliner registered a goal, for Butler his first of the season, in the triumph. The pair are Chicago’s top defensive set and have played together for almost all 10 games this season.

• 20: Right wing Ty Rattie returns to the Chicago for his fourth stint in as many seasons, but this time the 23-year-old will wear No. 20 as his former No. 8 has been claimed by center Alex Friesen for the 2016-17 season. Only six other players have worn No. 20 for the Wolves: Al Secord (1994-96), Brian Maloney (2002-03), Darren Haydar (2006-08, 2010-13), Rylan Kaip (2008-10), Yannick Veilleux (2013-14) and Cody Beach (2015-16).

• 400: Left wing Magnus Paajarvi’s next game will be his 400th North American professional game. The 25-year-old has split parts of seven seasons between the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League since being selected in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers. During that time, Paajarvi has 279 NHL games and 120 AHL games under his belt. Prior to being drafted, the Sweden native appeared in 134 games in the Swedish Elite League (SEL), Sweden’s top professional hockey league, where he accrued 20 goals and 29 assists for 49 points.  

Recent Games Recap

Saturday, Nov. 5: Chicago 4, (at) Grand Rapids 2

• Chicago closed out the weekend clipping its Lake Michigan rival, the Grand Rapids Griffins, in the squads’ third of 10 meetings this season.
• Center Ivan Barbashev registered 2 goals and now leads the team with 5 goals, while rookie wing Samuel Blais recorded his first professional tally.
• Former Griffin Landon Ferraro recorded an empty-net marker for the 4-2 final score.
• Goaltender Jordan Binnington turned aside 34 shots and made key saves early in the third period for the victory.

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