Welcome to Wolves Roundup, a weekly report of highlights, notes and transactions from the Chicago Wolves’ previous week of competition during the 2016-17 season.
THE BOYS ARE BACK
Following the AHL All-Star Break, the Chicago Wolves return to action at home with a set of Central Division contests. On Friday, Feb. 3, the division-leading Grand Rapids Griffins visit Allstate Arena. The Griffins pace the Central Division with a .686 win percentage and are 7-3-0-0 in their last 10 games. The Wolves are clinging to the second spot in the division with a .609 win rate – just .004 percent better than the third-place Milwaukee Admirals. Chicago will look to close the 27-24 gap in ROW (Regulation and Overtime Wins) and take a pair of head-to-head points against the Griffins to help better its chances of taking the Central Division crown come April.
On Saturday, Feb. 4, the Rockford IceHogs come to Rosemont for an Illinois Lottery Cup tilt. With a 3-0-0-1 record against their in-state foe at Allstate Arena this season, the Wolves will look to remain nearly perfect and collect another two points to stay among the Central Division’s top teams. Rockford, on the other hand, is sitting at the bottom of the division and the conference. They’re on a second-half push to make the playoffs. They’ve got some serious work do with 138 percentage points separating them and the current Western Conference eighth seed – the Stockton Heat.
Agostino, Dunn Up for the All-Star Challenge
Kenny Agostino and Vince Dunn will represent the Chicago Wolves during the 2017 American Hockey League All-Star Challenge at 6 p.m. tonight in Allentown, Pennslyvania. The pair will skate for the Central Division squad in a six-game round-robin 3-on-3 tournament. The game will be broadcast live on Comcast SportsNet Chicago. On Sunday night, the duo helped the Western Conference to a come-from-behind victory over the Eastern Conference in the skills competition. Agostino competed in the rapid fire, accuracy shooting and breakaway relay while Dunn participated in the puck control, pass and score and breakaway relay.
TOP LINE
Kenny Agostino
In two games last week, Agostino registered three assists to keep the competition at arm’s length in the American Hockey League scoring race. The league’s top point-producer has 17 goals and 41 assists for 58 points – 13 points better than the next-closest player, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ Jordan Weal. After helping the Western Conference defeat the Eastern Conference in Sunday’s skills competition, the 24-year-old will skate for the Central Division as they look to win the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic crown at 6 p.m. Monday night.
Andrew Agozzino
The 26-year-old tallied a goal and two assists in a set of games last week against his former team, the Cleveland Monsters. Agozzino also was one of four Chicago Wolves to score in the nine-round shootout on Saturday. The Wolves fell to the Monsters 3-2 in that game. However, Agozzino finished the two-game set with six shots on goal and a +3 plus/minus rating.
Samuel Blais
The 20-year-old rookie netted a pair of goals to help the Chicago Wolves overcome the Cleveland Monsters on Thursday at Quicken Loans Arena. On Saturday, he was one of four Wolves shooters to score in a nine-round shootout in which Chicago fell 3-2 to the Monsters. In those two games, Blais registered six shots on net and a +3 plus/minus rating.
Rewind
Saturday, Jan 28 (at) Cleveland 3, Chicago 2 (SO) 2
- The Wolves dropped their third contest of the season to the Monsters at Quicken Loans Arena.
- Defenseman Morgan Ellis and forward Andrew Agozzino put Chicago up 2-0 in the first, but Cleveland tied it in the second.
- Monsters right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand scored in the ninth round of the shootout and Wolves left wing Brett Sterling could not solve Joonas Korpisalo to keep the shootout going.
- Goaltender Pheonix Copley made 30 saves through 65 minutes and stopped four of nine shooters in the shootout.
Thursday, Jan 26 Chicago 4, (at) Cleveland 2
- Chicago captured its second victory of the season against the Monsters.
- Rookie Samuel Blais netted two goals while Wade Megan scored the game-winning
tally for his team-leading 21st marker. - With two assists, Kenny Agostino pushed his league-leading point total to 57 (17G,
40A). - First-year netminder Villle Husso made 23 saves for his sixth victory of the year.
ON DECK
| Friday, Feb. 3 | vs. Grand Rapids^ | Allstate Arena | 7 p.m. CT |
| Saturday, Feb. 4 | vs. Rockford# | Allstate Arena | 7 p.m. CT |
| Tuesday, Feb. 7 | at Rockford^ | BMO Harris Bank Center | 7 p.m. CT |
| Friday, Feb. 10 | vs. San Antonio* | Allstate Arena | 7 p.m. CT |
| Saturday, Feb. 11 | at Milwaukee# | UWM Panther Arena | 6 p.m. CT |
^ AHL Live only, * U Too, # CW50
Games will be telecast live on CW50 or U Too; visit ChicagoWolves.com for a complete broadcast schedule; all games stream live on AHLLive.com
