Welcome to Wolves Roundup, a weekly report of highlights, notes and transactions from the Chicago Wolves’ previous week of competition during the 2017-18 season.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
The Wolves and Roadrunners will face off in four games — two in Rosemont and two in Tucson — during the regular season while the Bakersfield Condors, Ontario Reign and San Diego Gulls will each play two games — one at Allstate and one in their home rink — against the Wolves.
Reign Drought
Ontario paid its first visit to Rosemont on Saturday and forward Teemu Pulkkinen helped the Wolves weather the Reign with a goal and three assists for a 5-2 victory — Chicago’s first of the 2017-18 season. His four-point performance also made him the AHL’s leading scorer with a 3.00 point-per-game average and nine points (2G, 7A) in three contests.
Limited Experience
As a team, the Wolves do not have any firsthand experience facing the Roadrunners. However, splitting the 2016-17 season between the National Hockey League’s Anaheim Ducks and the AHL’s Gulls, Wolves defenseman Shea Theodore appeared in nine of San Diego’s 12 games against Tucson and collected four assists. Top Notch Theodore is off to a solid start for the 2017-18 campaign as the 22-year-old is the AHL’s top point-getting defenseman (along with Laval’s Matt Taormina) and the league’s third-highest scorer with seven points (3G, 4A) in three games. Theodore has recorded at least two points in each of the Wolves’ three games for a three-game multi-point streak.
Toodle-oo (for now)
On Sunday, the Vegas Golden Knights recalled goaltender Max Lagace and forward Alex Tuch from loan to the Wolves. The Knights announced that Stanley Cup-winning goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and forward Jonathan Marchessault were placed on injured reserve. Tuch wasted no time delivering as the 21-year-old scored his first NHL goal on Sunday night against Boston.
Top Line
Teemu Pulkkinen
The 25-year-old again was the Chicago Wolves’ top player last week with a goal and three assists in the Wolves’ 5-2 victory over the Ontario Reign Saturday at Allstate Arena. The victory marked Chicago’s first of the 2017-18 season and improved the franchise’s record in home openers to 15-6-2-1 since the team’s inception in 1994. The AHL’s leading scorer with nine points (2G, 7A) in three games, Pulkkinen has been skating on the Wolves’ top line with Alex Tuch and center Brandon Pirri. However, Tuch was recalled Sunday by the Vegas Golden Knights.
Shea Theodore
The British Columbia native continues to be the model of consistency on the Chicago Wolves’ blue line with a pair of assists in the club’s first victory of the year Saturday at Allstate Arena. With three goals and four assists for seven points through three games, Theodore shares the scoring lead among AHL defenseman and shares third among all league skaters.
Paul Thompson
The former Hockey East scoring champion recorded his first multi-point performance of the 2017-18 season Saturday in the Wolves’ 5-2 win over the Ontario Reign. The 28-year-old Thompson netted Chicago’s second goal and assisted on the club’s fifth tally for his second and third points of the year. Thompson was one of three players to don a leadership letter in Saturday’s contest. His linemate T.J. Tynan and top-line center Brandon Pirri also sported As for the Wolves against the Ontario Reign.
REWIND
Saturday, Oct. 14 (at) Chicago 5, Ontario 2
- Chicago collected its first win of the season on Ontario’s first visit to Allstate Arena.
- Forward Teemu Pulkkinen recorded a goal and three assists to help power the Wolves weather the Reign.
- Forwards Tomas Hyka, Brandon Pirri, Paul Thompson and Alex Tuch also scored for the Wolves.
- Goaltender Max Lagace earned his first victory with a 34-save performance.
On Deck
| Saturday, Oct. 21 | vs. Tucson | Allstate Arena | 7 p.m. |
| Sunday, Oct. 22 | vs. Tucson | Allstate Arena | 4 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Oct. 25 | vs. Manitoba | Allstate Arena | 11 a.m. |
| Friday, Oct. 27 | at. Grand Rapids | Van Andel Arena | 6 p.m. |
| Saturday, Oct. 28 | vs. Milwaukee | Allstate Arena | 7 p.m. |
All times Central. Visit ChicagoWolves.com for a complete broadcast schedule; all games stream on AHLLive.com.
