Welcome to Wolves Insider: the weekly report that gives you the scoop on all Chicago Wolves developments throughout the team’s 25th anniversary season.
A WIN STREAK AND A BIG TRADE
The Wolves won their fourth straight game on Sunday afternoon, moving into second place in the Central Division while pushing past Grand Rapids for the lead in winning percentage. Chicago will put the streak to the test on Tuesday, closing out the homestand with Rockford in the last Illinois Lottery Cup home game of the year.
The Wolves outscored opponents 10-5 last week, in part due to the stellar goaltending from Max Lagace and Oscar Dansk. The Wolves were outshot in each of the this week’s games, but the netminders teamed up for 100 total saves, a 1.67 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage. Dansk posted a season-high 38 saves in the win on Sunday, while Lagace has his own 38-save performance in Thursday’s win over the Stars.
The Wolves will be without rookie defenseman Erik Brännström, who was involved in a deal between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Ottawa Senators at the NHL Trade Deadline. An AHL All-Star, Brännström recorded seven goals and 21 assists in 41 games for the Wolves. As part of the deal, Ottawa sent center Tobias Lindberg to Vegas. Lindberg spent last season with the Wolves and contributed 10 goals and 13 assists in 64 games.
American Girl Night
Join the Wolves on Saturday, March 9, for American Girl Night when the Wolves face off against the Iowa Wild in a Central Division clash at 7 p.m. Doll accessories will be given out to the first 1,000 kids at the game and five American Girl Dolls will be given away at random times during the game.
ALMOST LAST CALL FOR CRAFT BEER ARENA CRAWL
Join us for the final Illinois Lottery Cup home game as the Wolves take on Rockford at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 26, and enjoy three craft beers as you make your way around the arena. It’s just $20 to join in on the crawl and you earn a commemorative T-shirt when you’re done!
It’s the next-to-last Craft Beer Arena Crawl of the season. The last one on the schedule comes Friday, March 15, when the Wolves host the Cleveland Monsters at 7 p.m.
TOP LINE
Center Gage Quinney recorded four points in three games this week for the Wolves, notching a goal and three helpers. Quinney’s goal, coming on Thursday against Texas, was his second short-handed goal this season. Quinney is fifth among active Wolves skaters with 34 points (15G, 19A).
Forward Daniel Carr had a six-point week for Chicago, scoring a pair of goals and four assists to extend his point streak to a career-high 10 games. Carr has scored multiple points in 22 games this season and continues to lead the league with 69 points on 29 goals and 40 assists.
Forward Curtis McKenzie posted three points (G, 1A) against his former Texas teammates last week and adding a goal and an assist against Grand Rapids for a five-point week. McKenzie has tallied a point in each of his last eight games, tying his career high, for the second-longest streak in the AHL behind Carr.
REWIND (3-0-0-0)
SUNDAY, FEB. 24: (at) CHICAGO 4, TEXAS 2
- The Wolves pushed past Grand Rapids for the best winning percentage in the Central Division with their fourth straight win on Sunday evening.
- Forward Daniel Carr tallied a goal and two assists while Keegan Kolesar, Zach Whitecloud and Dylan Coghlan all scored goals for the Wolves.
- Goaltender Oscar Dansk posted a season-high 38 saves in the win.
SATURDAY, FEB. 23: (at) CHICAGO 3, GRAND RAPIDS 2
- Forward Keegan Kolesar retrieved his own rebound and fired it home 3:35 into the third period to make the difference against the Central Division leader at Allstate Arena.
- Forwards Curtis McKenzie and Brooks Macek notched the other Chicago goals while forward Daniel Carr earned the primary assist on both of those scores.
- Goaltender Max Lagace earned 24 saves to pick up his third win in a row.
THURSDAY, FEB. 13: (at) CHICAGO 3, TEXAS 1
- The Wolves scored three unanswered goals, including the game-winning short-handed tally from center Gage Quinney, to best the Stars in front of 15,432 fans at Allstate Arena.
- Forwards Curtis McKenzie and Daniel Carr also scored goals in the victory.
- Goaltender Max Lagace posted 38 saves.
