Welcome to Wolves Insider: the weekly report that gives you the scoop on all Chicago Wolves developments throughout the team’s 25th anniversary season.
WOLVES ARE ROAD WARRIORS
The Chicago Wolves are headed into the longest road stretch so far this season, spending the next four games on the visitor’s bench — and that’s a good thing. The Wolves are outscoring teams by 22 goals (82-60) on the road, led by points leader Daniel Carr who has scored 13 of his 23 goals this year in road games.
The Wolves have a 14-7-1-0 road record this year, including a six-game winning streak away from Allstate from Dec. 5-28. Not only does Chicago’s .659 road win percentage ranks fourth-best in the American Hockey League this season, it ranks third-best in the franchise’s 25-year history. The 2006-07 team, which went 27-8-2-3 on the road (.738), owns the Wolves record.
The Wolves’ power play on the road is converting at a 19.8 percent rate, slightly lower than their overall 20.9 percent, but the penalty kill is where the Wolves are making a mark in opposing rinks. The Wolves are killing off penalties at 86.1 pecent on the road, compared to their overall average of 81.4 percent, and have scored two of their three short-handed goals this season on the road.
A good showing during their week-long road trip could be invaluable in the standings as the Wolves are just three points back in the Central Division from first-place Grand Rapids, who the Wolves match up with on Sunday. Third-place Iowa, who the Wolves will face in their first game back at Allstate Arena on Feb. 17, are one point behind the Wolves while fourth-place Milwaukee, the scheduled foe on Saturday, is just three points back from the Wolves.
Cheers to 25 years
The Chicago Wolves are toasting the franchise’s celebrated history with the Cheers to 25 Years fundraiser this Thursday, Feb. 7, at Murray Bros. Caddyshack in Rosemont. Current Wolves favorites such as Oscar Dansk, Alex Gallant, Nic Hague, Keegan Kolesar and Tyler Wong are slated to be there along with popular alums Brett Sterling and Scooter Vaughan. In addition to enjoying a complimentary drink and appetizers, everyone who attends will receive a bonus Wolves gift at the end of the night! To join the fun, sign up here.
ready for another craft beer arena crawl?
The Chicago Wolves’ Craft Beer Arena Crawl is back! Join us on Tuesday, Feb. 26, for the 7 p.m. game against the Rockford IceHogs — the final Illinois Lottery Cup home game this season — and enjoy three craft beers as you make your way around the arena. It’s just $20 to be a part of the crawl (if you already have a ticket) and you earn a commemorative T-shirt when you’re done! If you haven’t bought tickets yet for the game and the crawl, you can do so here.
TOP LINE
Forward Daniel Carr notched four points over the weekend, scoring a goal and an assist in each of the Wolves’ games. Carr keeps adding to his AHL-leading 57 points and 34 assists. Carr’s 23 goals are one shy of his career-best set during the 2014-15 season with the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Also adding four points last weekend was center Gage Quinney. The 23-year-old tallied a goal and assist in each game, including a power-play goal against Rockford, to increase his point total to 28 on the season. In 100 career AHL games, Quinney owns 27 goals and 34 assists.
Rookie defenseman Zach Whitecloud scored a goal and an assist, in addition to recording a game-high +3 plus/minus rating, in Saturday’s win over Manitoba. Whitecloud leads league rookies with a +24 rating this season, ranking third among all skaters.
REWIND (1-1-0-0)
SATURDAY, FEB. 2: (at) CHICAGO 5, MANITOBA 2
- The Wolves pulled away from Manitoba with a pair of goals in the third period, topping the road team in front of 11,108 fans at Allstate Arena.
- Forwards Tomas Hyka, Daniel Carr, Keegan Kolesar and Gage Quinney and defenseman Zach Whitecloud all scored goals while Tyler Wong and Brooks Macek each notched two assists.
- Goaltender Oscar Dansk saved 24 of 26 shots in the win.
FRIDAY, FEB. 1: (at) ROCKFORD 5, CHICAGO 2
- The Wolves jumped to an early lead, but the IceHogs reeled off four goals in a row to set the tone for the Illinois Lottery Cup victory in Rockford.
- Forwards Daniel Carr and Gage Quinney produced one goal and one assist apiece while Brooks Macek and Tomas Hyka also picked up assists.
- Goaltender Oscar Dansk stopped 14 of 18 shots before giving way to Zach Fucale.
