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Tale of the Tape: Nov. 26, 2016 vs. Rockford

Saturday, Nov. 26 | 7 p.m. | Allstate Arena

FOUR SCORE

Last time the Chicago Wolves and Rockford IceHogs faced off in Illinois Lottery Cup Action, the Wolves outscored the IceHogs 7-3 for their first victory of the season at Allstate Arena. In the victory, goaltender Jordan Binnington turned aside 26 shots, and 11 different skaters registered at least a point. The game was heavily powered by the Wolves’ offensive defense, which accounted for half the team’s 14 points. Blueliners Chris Butler (A), Vince Dunn (2A), Morgan Ellis (G, A) and Brad Hunt (G, A) all tallied points. Forwards Ivan Barbashev (G, 2A), Jordan Caron (3A) and Brett Sterling (G, 2A) recorded 3 points each. Kenny Agostino (G, A), Landon Ferraro (G) and Wade Megan (G) also scored in the victory. The Wolves’ power play also was firing on all cylinders as the club netted a season-high four markers with the extra man.

THE CHASE IS ON

Tonight is the third of 12 meetings between the Chicago Wolves and their in-state rival, the Rockford IceHogs, in 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. Through two games this season, the each team has a regulation victory to its record. On Oct. 28, the IceHogs opened the Cup series with a 3-2 victory at BMO Harris Bank Center. Jake Dowell’s power-play tally late in the second period stood up as the game winner. The next night, the Wolves handled the IceHogs 7-3 for their first victory of the season at Allstate Arena. Eleven different skaters registered at least a point while seven players had multi-point nights.

SELMAN’S BACK

On Friday, the Chicago Wolves announced that center Justin Selman was reassigned to the club by the St. Louis Blues. This marks Selman’s second stint of the 2016-17 season with the Wolves. Previously, the 23-year-old skated in six games from Oct. 28 to Nov. 11 and collected a goal. The former University of Michigan Wolverine had been centering Chicago’s fourth line. Last season, Selman appeared in seven games for the Wolves and recorded 2 points (G, A).

BY THE NUMBERS:

  • 3: Last time the Chicago Wolves and Rockford IceHogs competed, forwards Ivan Barbashev (G, 2A) Jordan Caron (3A) and Brett Sterling (G, 2A) each recorded 3 points. Barbashev netted his goal just 1:43 into the middle frame to extend the Wolves’ lead to 4-1. Sterling scored with under five minutes to play in the game to give Chicago a 6-3 lead. Caron assisted on the Wolves’ first marker of the game, Barbashev’s second-period tally and Sterling’s goal. Barbashev’s helpers came on Brad Hunt’s goal, the Wolves’ first in the contest, and Sterling’s third-period marker. Sterling recorded assists on Wade Megan’s late second-stanza goal (18:36) and Morgan Ellis’ first tally of the season at 16:35 of the third session.

    4: Four was the magic number when the Chicago Wolves and Rockford IceHogs last met at Allstate Arena. First, the Wolves’ power play came alive and netted four goals on seven opportunities. Their first man-advantage marker came just 54 seconds into the middle frame courtesy of Kenny Agostino to extend the Wolves’ lead to 3-1 over Rockford. In the final two minutes of the same frame, Wade Megan nabbed a power-play goal for Chicago and pushed the lead to 5-1. In the final five minutes of the game, Brett Sterling and Morgan Ellis potted back-to-back tallies for the 7-3 final score. The four power-play goals still stand as the Wolves’ season-high through 17 games.

    7: When the Chicago Wolves beat Rockford IceHogs 7-3 at Allstate Arena for their first victory of the season on home ice, defensemen combined for 7 of the Wolves’ 14 points. Captain Chris Butler picked up an assist and rookie Vince Dunn registered 2 helpers. Morgan Ellis and Brad Hunt each tallied a goal and an assist.

    81: In the Wolves’ last game on Nov. 23 against the Charlotte Checkers, the two teams combined for 81 shots on goal. Chicago recorded a season-high 41 shots and Charlotte put 40 on net; the most the Wolves have allowed an opponent this season. Charlotte also registered 17 shots in the first period, the most Chicago has allowed an opponent in a single period this season.

    175: Since the inception of the Illinois Lottery Cup, prior to the 2011-12 season, the Chicago Wolves hold a 175-170 edge over the Rockford IceHogs in head-to-head scoring. Through two games this season, the Wolves have outscored the IceHogs 9-6; that includes a 7-3 victory at Allstate Arena on Oct. 29. The win marked the Wolves’ largest margin of victory (4 goals) and the most power-play goals (4) in a single game for Chicago.

Recent Games Recap

  • The Wolves took the second of back-to-back games against the Checkers to split the series in Charlotte.
  • Center Wade Megan (2G, A) and wing Kenny Agostino (G, 2A) each registered 3 points while Ivan Barbashev recorded 2 assists.
  • Defenseman Reid McNeill nabbed his first point (A) in a Wolves uniform.
  • In a high-shooting affair, Jordan Binnington turned aside 38 shots for the victory.

FOLLOW THE ACTION

Saturday night’s game begins at 7:00 p.m. with CW50’s “Saturday Night with the Wolves,” presented by the Illinois Office of Tourism.

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

Join the conversation. Follow @Chicago_Wolves for live game updates.