Saturday, Dec. 17 | 7 p.m. | at Allstate Arena
Grudge Match: Round 4
Last time the Chicago Wolves and Cleveland Monsters met, the reigning Calder Cup champions swept the Wolves in a two-game series at Quicken Loans Arena. On Nov. 11, Cleveland edged Chicago, 2-1, and the clubs accrued 60 minutes of penalty time. The outing included three fights and two instigator misconduct penalties. The next night, the Monsters drowned the Wolves 4-2 and the teams logged 68 minutes in penalty time, a season high for Chicago. That second game also featured short-handed markers for both squads. The contest marks the last time the Wolves both scored and gave up a short- handed tally in the same night.
Return of the Nightingale
On Friday, the Chicago Wolves signed veteran defenseman Jared Nightingale to a professional tryout contract (PTO). Nightingale is no stranger to the Wolves as he skated in 31 games during the 2015-16 season for Chicago and tallied 6 points (2G, 4A), 68 penalty minutes and a -3 plus/minus rating. In 2007-08, the 34-year-old appeared in ve games with the Wolves. Nightingale comes to the Wolves from the Toledo Walleye (ECHL). With the Walleye this season, the Jackson, Michigan, native has a goal and two assists through 23 games. He also has a -5 plus/minus rating and 42 penalty minutes.
The Hunt is On
Since being recalled from loan by the St. Louis Blues (NHL) on Dec. 8, defenseman Brad Hunt has appeared in all four Blues games since that date. In St. Louis’ 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 15, Hunt registered his fourth point in as many games. Prior to departing the Chicago Wolves, Hunt was riding a four-game point streak in which he totaled 9 points (4G, 5A) in American Hockey League play and sitting atop the AHL leaderboard for points. Thought Hunt has missed three games with the Wolves, the 28-year-old still ranks second in league scoring with 9 goals and 20 assists for 29 points. He trails only Bakersfield’s Taylor Beck (9-21–30), while Wolves teammate Kenny Agostino (9-19–28) has quickly crept within a point of Hunt. Agostino is riding a season-high seven- game point streak during which he has stacked up 3 goals and 10 assists. In Agostino’s last 10 games, he has delivered 13 assists.
BY THE NUMBERS
- 3: The Chicago Wolves have collected three short-handed goals this season. Center Wade Megan – last year’s league leader with 7 short-handed tallies – has notched two of them. The third belongs to right wing – and former Lake Erie Monster – Andrew Agozzino. Chicago’s last short-handed goal came in its 4-2 setback against Cleveland at Quicken Loans Arena on Nov. 12. Megan’s shortie in that contest put the Wolves up 2-0 in the final minute of the opening period. However, Markus Hannikainen registered the game-winning goal at 8:22 of the third period and Justin Scott delivered the empty-net insurance marker at 19:59 of the third frame to seal the rally.
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22: Goaltenders Jordan Binnington and Anton Forsberg each made 22 saves the last time the Chicago Wolves and Cleveland Monsters met at Allstate Arena on Oct. 30. The 4-2 contest ended in the Wolves’ favor, and Chicago rookie Samuel Blais picked his first professional point – an assist – in the game. Captain Chris Butler, Brad Hunt, Bryce Gervais and Magnus Paajarvi all scored for the Wolves.
- 40: In their 4-2 loss to the Cleveland Monsters on Nov. 12, the Chicago Wolves logged a team-high 40 minutes in penalties. Coming on the heels of a 2-1 game the previous night that ended in the Monsters’ favor and saw the clubs combine for 60 minutes in penalties, tensions were high and the parade to the penalty box continued. The contest featured two fights and a set of misconducts for dropping gloves at puck drop.
- 68: During 31 games last season with the Chicago Wolves, veteran defenseman Jared Nightingale racked up 68 penalty minutes. The 34-year-old managed to stay out of the box for 16 of those contests. Coincidentally, the last time the Wolves and Cleveland Monsters met, they combined for 68 penalty minutes.
Recent Games Recaps
Thursday, Dec. 15 (at) Chicago 1, Grand Rapids 7
- Chicago lost its second straight School-Day Game to Grand Rapids
- The Griffins scored six consecutive goals before Ivan Barbashev got on the board at 7:33 of the third period.
- Goaltender Jordan Binnington relieved Pheonix Copley with 3:19 to play in the middle frame; each netminder turned aside 10 shots with Copley getting the loss.
Sunday, Dec. 11 (at) Chicago 4, Grand Rapids 1
- Chicago handled Grand Rapids in the clubs’ fifth meeting of the season.
- Goaltender Pheonix Copley made 27 saves in the victory.
- Forwards Andrew Agozzino, Jordan Caron, Bryce Gervais and Wade Megan all tallied for Chicago.
- The win was the Wolves’ sixth consecutive game scoring four or more goal
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.
