DAZZLING DEBUT

November 20, 2024

Welcome to Wolves Insider, presented by Are You Really Winning?: The weekly report that gives you an inside look at the latest Chicago Wolves news and happenings. Look for a new edition of Wolves Insider each week.

DUSTIN TOKARSKI ‘GRATEFUL TO BE HERE’

Talk about making a strong first impression.

In his debut with the Wolves, veteran goaltender Dustin Tokarski made 29 saves—including stopping a breakaway chance on the first shot he faced—during Chicago’s 4-0 blanking of the Rockford IceHogs on Sunday at Allstate Arena.

Tokarski inked a Professional Tryout Contract (PTO) with the Wolves on Nov. 2 but didn’t join the club until recently while immigration paperwork was sorted out.

It was worth the wait.

“Immigration took a while to get settled and I was waiting and excited the whole time to get here,” said Tokarski, who was born in Humboldt, Saskatchewan. “Now that I’m here, I’m excited to work hard and play every day and see what lies ahead.”

A fifth-round selection (No. 122 overall) by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Tokarski has played in 80 NHL games with the Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins. Last season, he appeared in 24 games with the AHL’s Rochester Americans with whom he went 11-9-3 with a 3.32 goals-against average and .890 save percentage.

Now the 35-year-old is the elder statesman of the Wolves, putting him in a leadership role—something Tokarski embraces.

“Obviously, I’ve played a few years so I’m absolutely hoping that I can chip in and do my part daily and be a veteran presence on and off the ice in practices and games and keep building something good here,” Tokarski said. “I’m grateful to be here. It seems like a great group of guys and coaching staff. I’m hoping I can help out any way I can.”

Tokarski is welcoming the opportunity to showcase his skills with an eye on a return to the NHL, but that is not something on which he is focusing.

“I’m just playing where my feet are right now,” he said with a grin.

For a look at Tokarski’s brilliant first save with the Wolves, see below for “Save of the Week.”

SHOOTING STARS

No team in the American Hockey League is better at limiting opponents’ shots on goal than the Wolves.

Through 12 games, the Wolves have allowed a league-low 298 shots and their 24.83 per contest ranks No. 1 in the AHL.

Wolves coach Cam Abbott said, “it’s not any one thing” that has led to the defensive stinginess.

“It’s playing defense all over the ice and making sure you’re not playing in your own zone that minimize shots against,” Abbott said. “It’s by design with regards to the pressure. You want to make sure the other team doesn’t have the opportunities to get their heads up and make a play. It’s all connected.”

The strong defense has helped the Wolves rank in a tie for 12^th in goals against at 3.00 per game. Despite the strong defensive numbers, Abbott would like to see even fewer opportunities by opponents.

“The important thing to consider is that we have to minimize those Grade-A chances,” Abbott said. “We’ve given up way too many so we’re just going to continue to work on the process of making sure the other team doesn’t have great opportunities to put pucks on our net.”

Speaking of Grade-A chances, one thing Abbott is happy about is the awakening of what had been a dormant Wolves power play.

After a six-game stretch without a score while on the man advantage, the Wolves have power-play goals in each of the previous two games, including a pair during Sunday’s victory over the IceHogs.

“It was nice to get a couple of goals,” Abbott said. “There has been some quicker puck tempo and guys are getting used to each other. One thing to consider is we have a number of players who haven’t really spent hours of time on the power play in this league so it’s been a bit of an adjustment.

“It’s past the 10-game mark now and we’d like to continue to see us improve,” he added. “It certainly helps winning when you win the special teams battle.”

 

 

IMPACT PLAY OF THE WEEK

During Sunday’s game at Allstate Arena, Wolves defenseman Aleksi Heimosalmi scored his first career American Hockey League goal to help propel the Wolves to a 4-0 victory over the IceHogs.

 

C.D.E. COLLISION CENTERS’ COLLISION OF THE WEEK

Wolves forwards Gleb Trikozov (71) and Skyler Brind’Amour combined forces to send the Griffins’ Sheldon Dries to the ice during Friday night’s game in Grand Rapids.

 

SAVE OF THE WEEK

Playing in his first game with the Wolves, veteran goaltender Dustin Tokarski was tested on the first shot he saw in a Chicago sweater and came up big by robbing the IceHogs’ Brett Seney on a breakaway during Sunday’s contest.

Weekly rewind (1-2-0-0)

FRIDAY, NOV. 15

Griffins 5, Wolves 1: The Griffins raced to a big lead early and the Wolves couldn’t catch them with only Bradly Nadeau finding the back of the net for Chicago. Grand Rapids won its fourth consecutive game while the Wolves dropped their second in a row.

SATURDAY, NOV. 16

Moose 5, Wolves 3: Bradly Nadeau, Josiah Slavin and Juha Jaaska scored but the Wolves fell short in the first of eight meetings between the Central Division rivals this season.

SUNDAY, NOV. 17

Wolves 4, IceHogs 0: Ronan Seeley, Aleksi Heimosalmi, Noel Gunler and Skyler Brind’Amour scored and Dustin Tokarski—making his first appearance for the Wolves—made 29 saves in goal for the shutout to help Chicago snap a three-game losing skid.

First Star of the Week

Where we stand

4-7-1-0, seventh in the Central Division.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE