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Tale of the Tape: Nov. 30, 2016 vs. Texas

Sunday, Nov. 30 | 7 p.m. | Allstate Arena

MEGAN THE MAGNIFICENT 

Wolves center Wade Megan has been earning his keep, racking up 7 points (5G, 2A) in the last six contests. The 26-year-old is the Wolves’ leading goal scorer with 8 tallies since the start of the season. Megan has also earned a spot on the team’s top line, centering Landon Ferraro and Kenny Agostino. The trio combined for 9 points (6G, 3A) last week in two games against the Checkers in Charlotte. Megan has also fared well in the face-off circle. Through four games last week, he won 47 of 80 draws for a 58.8 faceoff percentage. Alex Friesen has the next-best percentage through those four games with 56.7 percent.

SHOOTING GALLERY

Through 19 games this season, the Wolves have managed to put 530 shots on opposing goaltenders. Wing Kenny Agostino leads the team shooting brigade with 54 shots on goal. Ten of those shots came in Chicago’s 4-2 victory over the Checkers in Charlotte on Nov. 23. Playing with Wade Megan and Landon Ferraro, Agostino and Co. registered 7 points (4G, 3A) and accounted for all four goals in the victory. Charlotte goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic wasn’t the only busy netminder in the tilt; the Checkers mustered 40 shots against Jordan Binnington. The teams combined for 81 shots on goal; the game marked the most shots (41) the Wolves have put on net in a single game this season, as well as the most the club has allowed (40). Just six shots behind Agostino is defenseman Morgan Ellis with 48. Landon Ferraro (45) and Brad Hunt (43) are the only other skaters with more than 40 shots on goal. Center Ivan Barbashev is still Chicago’s top scorer, percentage-wise, with 6 goals on 23 shots for a 26.1 shooting percentage. Fellow center Wade Megan isn’t far behind — he leads the Wolves with 8 goals on 34 shots for a 23.5 shooting percentage.

THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM

Last week, goaltender Jordan Binnington started three of the Wolves’ four games. His three starts (Nov. 23, 26, 27) marked the first time this season a Wolves netminder has started three consecutive games. Previously, Binnington had two back-to-back stints (Nov. 5, 9; Nov. 12, 18) and fellow Chicago netminder Pheonix Copley had one (Nov. 19, 22). This season, the Wolves have primarily played a two-goaltender system. Chicago started the season with three netminders; American Hockey League rookie Ville Husso made his North American debut on Oct. 15 against Grand Rapids at Allstate Arena. He also won his first North American professional game on Oct. 23 against the Rampage in San Antonio. On Oct. 26, the 21-year-old was reassigned to the Missouri Mavericks (ECHL) by the St. Louis Blues (NHL).

BY THE NUMBERS:

  • 1: In the Wolves’ 2-1 loss versus the Manitoba Moose on Sunday, Scooter Vaughan nabbed his first point, a goal, of the 2016-17 season. The part-time defenseman — playing in just his second game as a forward this season — took an outlet pass from rookie Conner Bleackley and rushed up the right-wing boards. He lasered a shot past former Wolves netminder Ondrej Pavelec off the far post and into the net. The 27-year-old has skated in 12 games this season for the Wolves. He played at the forward position in Saturday’s 3-2 victory over Chicago’s in-state rival, the Rockford IceHogs, and Sunday’s setback against Manitoba. This season, Vaughan has registered a goal, a +5 plus/minus rating and just 4 penalty minutes.

  • 2:The Wolves have two victories this season over Pacific Division foes. Those Ws came in contests against the San Antonio Rampage in the Wolves’ lone road trip to AT&T Center this season. On Saturday, Oct. 22, the Wolves completed a comeback for a 4-2 victory over San Antonio. Chicago trailed 2-0 midway through the game until Ivan Barbashev began the rally for the Wolves. Center Wade Megan tallied two markers — including a short-handed goal — and Kenny Agostino’s power-play tally at 5:29 of the third stood as the game winner. On Sunday, Nov. 23, the Wolves completed the series sweep with a 2-1 victory; AHL rookie netminder Ville Husso recorded his first professional North American win, backstopping the Wolves with 29 saves.

  • 3: Center Wade Megan (2G, A) and wing Kenny Agostino (G, 2A) each turned in a three-point performance during the Wolves’ 4-2 victory against the Charlotte Checkers on Nov. 23 at Bojangles’ Coliseum. Megan picked up his sixth and seventh goals to become the team’s leading goal-getter. Currently, Agostino (2nd) and Megan (4th) are both in the top five of Wolves scoring for the season. The duo assisted on linemate Landon Ferraro’s marker that opened scoring. Agostino also assisted on Megan’s first goal of the contest in the final six minutes of the first period. Agostino, Ferraro and Megan combined for 7 points (4G, 3A), including all four Wolves goals, in the victory.

  • 8: Center Wade Megan (2G, A) and wing Kenny Agostino (G, 2A) each turned in a three-point performance during the Wolves’ 4-2 victory against the Charlotte Checkers on Nov. 23 at Bojangles’ Coliseum. Megan picked up his sixth and seventh goals to become the team’s leading goal-getter. Currently, Agostino (2nd) and Megan (4th) are both in the top five of Wolves scoring for the season. The duo assisted on linemate Landon Ferraro’s marker that opened scoring. Agostino also assisted on Megan’s first goal of the contest in the final six minutes of the first period. Agostino, Ferraro and Megan combined for 7 points (4G, 3A), including all four Wolves goals, in the victory.

  • 8: Wade Megan leads all Chicago Wolves skaters with 8 goals through 19 games this season. The 26-year-old’s team-leading tallies include 2 shorthanded goals, which also leads the team. During the 2015-16 season, Megan the league with 7 shorties and broke a 13-year-old Portland Pirates franchise record. With 5 goals over the last six games, Megan took over the team goal lead from fellow center Ivan Barbashev, whom has 6 markers. Barbashev is still the team’s most accurate shooter with a 26.1 shooting percentage; he has netted 6 goals on 23 shots. Megan is the Wolves’ next most accurate shooter with 8 goals on 34 tries for a 23.5 shooting percentage.

  • 48: Through 19 games, the Chicago Wolves are carrying a 48 percent faceoff percentage. Of skaters with at least 100 draws under their belts, Alex Friesen is the Wolves’ best center on the dot with a 56 percent win rate. Wade Megan is the only other center above 50 percent on the draw, carrying a 52 percent win average. Over the last four games, Megan has been dominant in the circle, winning 47 of 80 faceoffs for 58.8 percent. Friesen was not far behind with a 56.7 percent through the last four games. Centers Ivan Barbashev and Landon Ferraro are the only other skaters for the Wolves with at least 100 faceoffs. Barbashev is touting a 47 percent win rate and Ferraro is sitting at 46 percent.

Recent Games Recap

Sunday, Nov. 27 (at) Chicago 1, Manitoba 2

  • Special teams helped lift Manitoba over Chicago in the clubs’ first meeting of the season.
  • Part-time defenseman Scooter Vaughan nabbed his first point of the season, a goal, in his second game as a forward.
  • Goaltender Jordan Binnington turned aside 26 shots in the loss.

Friday, Nov. 26 (at) Chicago 3, Rockford 2

  • The Wolves topped the IceHogs for their second win in three games over their in- state rival in Illinois Lottery Cup action.
  • Center Wade Megan registered his fifth goal in as many games in the victory.
  • Wings Andrew Agozzino and Bryce Gervais also tallied.
  •  Defenseman Brad Hunt nabbed his team-leading 20th point with the lone helper on Megan’s goal.
  • Goaltender Jordan Binnington stopped 25 shots for his fifth win of the season.

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