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.n.
Pacific Perfection
Following four games in six days — including a 3-in-3 weekend — the Chicago Wolves will head to Cedar Park, Texas, on Thursday (Feb. 16) for a pair of games against the Stars at HEB Center. The Wolves will be looking to push their season winning streak against Texas to three games. The teams last faced each other on Nov. 30 at Allstate Arena, and the Wolves slipped by the Stars 4-3 in regulation. Left wing Kenny Agostino delivered the game-winning goal at 14:57 of the third frame; it was his third point (G, 2A) of the game. Chicago also will attempt to extend its season winning streak versus the Pacific Division to 5-0-0-0. Last week, the Chicago Wolves corralled the San Antonio Rampage twice at Allstate Arena to sweep the four-game series for the first time since the clubs began competing in 2002. Friday, captain Chris Butler collected four points — a career best — to help power Chicago to a 7-3 victory against San Antonio. Then on Sunday, the Wolves edged the Rampage 3-2 with a late third-period goal from defenseman James Wisniewski.
The New Regime
Since Jan. 26, two of the Chicago Wolves’ top three scorers — Kenny Agostino and Ivan Barbashev — as well as seasoned veteran Magnus Paajarvi have been recalled from loan to the Wolves by the St. Louis Blues. Those skaters are responsible for 113 of Chicago’s 466 points (173G, 293A) this season. With nearly a quarter of the club’s repower skating in the National Hockey League, 11-year NHL veteran defenseman James Wisniewski signed an SPC on Jan. 29 while former college standouts Ty Loney and Steven McParland inked PTOs on Feb. 6 and 7, respectively. All three made their Wolves debuts last week; Loney and McParland skated in Tuesday’s 2-1 overtime victory over the Rockford IceHogs at BMO Harris Bank Center, and Wisniewski saw game action for the first time on Saturday against the Milwaukee Admirals at UWM Panther Arena. McParland has been held scoreless in his two tilts, but Loney has skated in four games and collected three points (2G, A) while Wisniewski is averaging a point per game with a goals in each of his two games. With his family in the stands, Wisniewski netted the game-winning tally late in the third period in Sunday’s 3-2 victory over the San Antonio Rampage at Allstate Arena. He sealed a season-series sweep for the Wolves.
TOP LINE
Chris Butler
In Friday’s 7-3 romp against the San Antonio Rampage, the Chicago Wolves captain become the team’s first defenseman in seven years to collect a four- point game with a pair of goals and pair of assists. He set a professional career benchmark, surpassing his previous best of three points that the 30-year-old set on Jan. 3 against the Charlotte Checkers with three assists. Through four games this week, Butler had five points (2G, 3A), five shots, a +3 plus/minus rating and just two penalty minutes. Butler’s four-point showing was his third multi- point performance of the season.
Ty Loney
Signed to a PTO on Monday, the 24-year-old skated in four games last week and tallied three points (2G, A) in that span. Off to a strong start with the Chicago Wolves, Loney also put six shots on net and logged a +2 plus/minus rating. The former University of Denver standout also played disciplined, registering zero penalty minutes. Along with fellow newcomer Steven McParland— who signed a PTO on Tuesday — Loney has been skating on a line centered by seasoned AHL veteran Andrew Agozzino.
Wade Megan
The 26-year-old tied and then took sole possession of the AHL goal-scoring title on Friday with two tallies against the San Antonio Rampage. As of Sunday, Megan now shares that title with the Toronto’s Marlies’ Byron Froese. Megan is riding a four-game point streak in which he has two goals and five assists for seven points. He logged a +4 plus/minus rating, seven penalty minutes, and 19 shots. In the absence of Wolves top scorers Kenny Agostino and Ivan Barbashev, Megan has been centering the top line with Quebecois Jordan Caron — who returned from injury on Friday — and Samuel Blais.
Rewind
Sunday, Feb. 12 (at) Chicago 3, San Antonio 2
- Chicago beat San Antonio for its first season-series sweep versus the Rampage.
- Defenseman James Wisniewski netted the game- winner late in the third period.
Defenseman Petteri Lindbohm (G, A) and center Wade Megan (2A) each put up two points in the victory. Goaltender Jordan Binnington made 32 saves in his first start since Jan. 22.
Saturday, Feb 11 (at) Milwaukee 4, Chicago 3
- The Wolves fell to the Admirals and ended their latest winning streak at three games.
- Milwaukee forwards Adam Payerl and Vladislav Kamenev scored just 12 seconds apart in the final five minutes of the game to earn the Amtrak Rivalry win.
- Rookie Samuel Blais, newcomer Ty Loney and NHL veteran James Wisniewski all tallied for the Wolves
- Netminder Pheonix Copley made 23 saves in the loss.
Friday, Feb. 10 (at) Chicago 7, San Antonio 3
- The Wolves defeated the Rampage for the third time this season and remained perfect against the Pacific Division.
- Captain Chris Butler tallied a career-high four points (2G, 2A) while Brett Sterling registered three points (G, 2A) to power Chicago’s victory.
- Forwards Emerson Clark (G), Wade Megan (2G) and Ty Loney (G, A) also tallied.
- Rookie netminder Ville Husso left the game just 5:09 into the first and Pheonix Copley earned the win with 22 saves.
- The Wolves topped the IceHogs in overtime for the second consecutive game.
- With the victory, Chicago clinched the Illinois Lottery Cup, winning seven of the first 11 head-to-head contests this season.
- Defenseman Petteri Lindbohm delivered the game-winning goal at 1:19 of OT.
- Rookie goaltender Ville Husso turned aside 35 shots in a game that was scoreless until 12:23 of the third session.
ON DECK
| Friday, Feb. 17 | at. Texas* | HEB Center | 7:30 p.m. CT |
| Saturday, Feb. 18 | at. Texas# | HEB Center | 7 p.m. CT |
| Wednesday, Feb. 22 | vs. Cleveland^ | Allstate Arena | 11 a.m. CT |
| Saturday, Feb. 25 | vs. Iowa# | Allstate Arena | 7 p.m. CT |
| Sunday, Feb. 26 | vs. Iowa# | Allstate Arena | 3 p.m. CT |
^ AHL Live and Facebook 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
