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Tale of the Tape: Dec 3, 2016 vs. Iowa

Saturday, Dec. 3 | 7 p.m. | Allstate Arena

RENAISSANCE MAN

Chicago Wolves center Wade Megan is doing it all this season. Through 21 games, he has registered 8 assists and a team-leading 8 goals for 16 points. Two of those goals are short-handed markers and another pair came on the man advantage. During the 2015-16 season, Megan led the AHL in short-handed goals with 7. The mark also broke a 13-year-old Portland Pirates franchise record. Of late, the hot-handed 26-year-old has been centering the Wolves’ top line between fellow twenty-somethings Kenny Agostino (24) and Landon Ferraro (25), and he has been dominant in the faceoff circle, winning 64.9 percent of his draws. Lastly, Megan is more known for his offensive touch than his physical prowess on the ice, but no one told the former Boston University Terriers captain. This season, Megan has a career-high two fights. Megan’s only other career AHL fight came on March 14, 2015, when his then-team, the San Antonio Rampage, and the Lake Erie Monsters combined for 136 penalty minutes in a 5-2 Rampage victory.

HOMEBODIES

The Chicago Wolves are comfortable playing at home this season with a 5-3-0-0 record through eight home contests. At Allstate Arena, the squad has enjoyed their widest margin of victory — also their first shutout of the season — in a 5-0 win over the Iowa Wild on Nov. 19. The contest also marked the club’s first game back after a six-game road trip when the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus took over Allstate for 14 days. In those eight games, Chicago has outscored opponents 27-18 and outshot them 326-210.

MAC IS BACK

Last night’s 4-1 victory against the in-state rival Rockford IceHogs marked rookie forward Mackenzie MacEachern’s first game since Oct. 23 in San Antonio. In that 2-1 Wolves victory, MacEachern missed a hit and bounced himself off the boards. He left the contest and did not return. Last night, MacEachern skated on the left wing of the fourth line with fellow wing Bryce Gervais and Justin Selman at center. The 22-year-old MacEachern put one shot on net and managed to stay out of the penalty box. Earlier this season, he skated in five games for the Wolves and logged 2 penalty minutes.

BY THE NUMBERS

  • 9: When you’re hot, you’re hot, and forward Kenny Agostino has been fire through the last six games for the Chicago Wolves. In last night’s 4-1 win over the Rockford IceHogs, Agostino registered his team-leading 8th goal on a breakaway opportunity late in the second period. The 24-year-old has 4 goals and 5 assists for 9 points in Chicago’s last six outings. The former Yale University Bulldog has been skating on a line with Landon Ferraro and Wade Megan. On Friday, the trio tallied 4 points (2G, 2A). In Wednesday’s 4-3 victory over the Texas Stars, they combined for 5 points (2G, 3A), and during the two-game stint in Charlotte, they registered 9 points (6G, 3A).
  • 50: Last night’s 4-1 victory of the Rockford IceHogs marked Wolves goaltender Jordan Binnington’s 50th career AHL win. This season, Binnington has started 13 games and carried a 2.48 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. Friday night also marked Binnington’s fifth consecutive start, the most by a Wolves goaltender this season. In that span, the 23-year-old has collected 4 wins, a .944 save percentage and a 1.75 goals-against average.
  • 150: In the 4-1 victory over Rockford on Friday, defenseman Brad Hunt collected his 150th AHL assist. The blueliner has been powering the Wolves offense with 6 goals and 18 assists for 24 points through 21 games. The 28-year-old is clicking at a 1.14 point-per-game pace. Twelve of his points have come on the power play and he is the Wolves’ leading power-play point-getter. The former Bemidji State University Beaver’s point total also makes him the AHL’s leading scorer. Toronto’s Brendan Leipsic is one point behind him with 6 goals and 17 assists through 19 games for the Marlies.
  • 501: Saturday night, members of the 501st Legion’s Midwest Garrison, who dress as authentic Star Wars characters, will be on hand for the Star Wars Night festivities. Wander around the main concourse during intermission to find your favorite Star Wars character for a photo opportunity. If you think the Force is strong with you, visit Sections 209 and 212 before the game and participate in Jedi training.

Recent Games Recap

Friday, Dec. 2 Chicago 4, (at) Rockford 1

Wednesday, Nov 30 (at) Chicago 4, Texas 3

  • The Wolves cashed in twice on the power play to slide by the Stars for their third victory versus Pacific Division opponents.
  • Wing Kenny Agostino (G, 2A) nabbed his second 3-point performance in four games.
  • Forwards Landon FerraroBrett Sterling and defenseman Brad Hunt also tallied.
  • Goaltender Jordan Binnington made 21 saves for his sixth win of the year.

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.