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Insider: A hat trick of All-Stars

Welcome to Wolves Insider: the weekly report that gives you the scoop on all Chicago Wolves developments throughout the team’s 25th anniversary season.

three wolves earn all-star nod

The Chicago Wolves will have three representatives at the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic on Jan. 27-28 in Springfield, Massachusetts, as announced by the league on Thursday afternoon. Forwards Brandon Pirri and Daniel Carr and rookie defenseman Erik Brännström were selected as members of the Central Division roster.

Pirri’s 41 points (17G, 24A) continue to lead the AHL despite missing the last seven games after being recalled by Las Vegas on Dec. 19. Pirri has continued his point production for the Knights, scoring six goals and three assists in seven games.

Carr is right behind Pirri in AHL scoring with 40 points (17G, 23A) in 29 games and his +21 plus-minus rating is tied with teammate Zach Whitecloud for the best in the AHL. Carr has nine power-play goals, the second-best mark in the league.

Brännström’s 20 points (4G, 16A) rank 16th among all AHL defensemen. The 19-year-old captained Team Sweden to four wins at the World Junior Championship before the team bowed out in the quarterfinal round. Brännström, who returned to the Wolves roster today, scored four goals in Sweden’s five games.

HOT HOCKEY, COLD BEER

The Chicago Wolves’ first two Craft Beer Arena Crawls have been a blast! Join us for the next one as the Wolves host a crawl on Jan. 4 at Allstate Arena. Fans who already have tickets can join the crawl for $20. All others can get a game ticket, three craft beers and, once you’ve finished the crawl, a T-shirt recognizing your feat — all for $40.

TOP LINE

DYLAN COGHLAN

Defenseman Dylan Coghlan scored three goals and added two assists this week, which included scoring the overtime game-winner against Rockford on Saturday night. Coghlan has the third-most goals of all rookie defensemen in the AHL with six and now has two overtime winners.

 

T.J. TYNAN

Forward T.J. Tynan dished out two assists on Friday and added the Wolves’ lone goal against the Wild on Monday. Tynan holds the AHL’s lead in assists with 25, and is closing in on his 100th point with the Wolves as he currently owns 92 (22 goals, 70 assists) in 105 regular-season appearances.

 

OSCAR DANSK

Goaltender Oscar Dansk collected 41 saves on 45 shots this week as he went 1-1-0 for the Wolves. Dansk put together a six-game winning streak from Dec. 8 to Dec. 28 during which he allowed just seven goals for a 1.17 goals-against average, stopped 165 of 172 shots for a .959 save percentage and earned one shutout.

 

REWIND (2-2-0-0)

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 2: IOWA 3, (at) CHICAGO 1

  • The Wolves scored less than two minutes into the first game of the new year, but special teams proved to be the difference in the home loss.
  • Defenseman Dylan Coghlan scored Chicago’s only goal in the opening minutes of the contest, but the Wild clamped down after that to keep the home team at bay
  • Goaltender Max Lagace saved 23 shots

MONDAY, DEC. 31: (at) IOWA 3, CHICAGO 1

  • The Wolves suffered their first regulation loss since Dec. 2 as the Wild took a 2-0 lead at the end of the second period and couldn’t be caught
  • Center T.J. Tynan scored with 59 seconds left in regulation to pull the Wolves within 1, but the visitors couldn’t set up a good chance for the equalizer
  • Goaltender Oscar Dansk stopped 20 of 22 shots

SATURDAY, DEC. 29: (at) CHICAGO 2, ROCKFORD 1 (OT)

  • The Wolves earned points in their 11th straight game, topping the IceHogs in extra time thanks to rookie defenseman Dylan Coghlan‘s second overtime winner this season
  • Forward Brooks Macek scored Chicago’s first goal and assisted on Coghlan’s GWG to keep the Wolves on top of the Central Division standings
  • Goaltender Max Lagace saved 20 shots in the win

FRIDAY, DEC. 28: CHICAGO 4, (at) ROCKFORD 2

  • The Wolves scored three consecutive goals during the second period to transform a one-goal deficit into a 4-2 lead that held the rest of the way in Illinois Lottery Cup play
  • Forward Curtis McKenzie earned his first two-goal game with the Wolves while forward Keegan Kolesar and defenseman Dylan Coghlan also contributed goals.
  • Goaltender Oscar Dansk delivered 21 saves for his sixth win in a row.