OVERTIME = NADEAU’S TIME

January 29, 2025

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.

FINISHING TOUCH

Just call him The Closer.

Wolves forward Bradly Nadeau’s two goals last week each were overtime game-winners. The rookie scored to end the contests against the Monsters last Wednesday night in Cleveland and against the IceHogs on Saturday night in Rockford.

“In both of those situations there were really good players on the ice with me and they were both able to make plays,” Nadeau, 19, said. “All I had to do was kind of put the puck in the net. Hopefully, it’s something I’ll be able to keep doing. We’ll see if we can win more when we do get those chances in overtime.”

The three-on-three overtime format suits Nadeau’s play-making style. Against the Monsters, he took a pass from fellow rookie Scott Morrow and lasered a one-timer past Cleveland goaltender Zach Sawchenko.

Three nights later in Rockford, Nadeau notched another winner when he sped around the net and wrapped the puck into the goal before a scrambling IceHogs netminder Drew Commesso could get back in position.

“It’s really fun to play three-on-three,” said Nadeau, who credited teammate Skyler Brind’Amour for beginning both scoring sequences by winning faceoffs. “There is a lot of time and a lot of space and once you have control you don’t want to give it away.”

Nadeau, who tops the Wolves with 12 goals this season, also realizes the delicate balance of trying to make plays in the offensive zone while staying sound defensively.

“If you have a chance you want to take it, but you also know when you don’t have the puck you have to be aware because one small mistake and the puck is probably in the back of your net,” he said. “But if you think it’s more than a 50-50 chance that’s usually when you put all your chips in and hope for the best.”

HELPING HAND

Spencer Martin’s focus as the Wolves’ No. 1 goaltender is on stopping pucks, but does the veteran realize he has leaped to the top of the American Hockey League netminders’ points race with three assists?

“Yeah, of course,” Martin said with a laugh. “It’s fun when they say my name for a point. That’s pretty rare. If I can get a couple more that will be fun.”

With assists in two consecutive contests—against Bakersfield on Jan. 18 and Cleveland on Jan. 22–Martin pulled into a tie among AHL goalies with Lehigh Valley’s Cal Peterson with three helpers—in nine fewer games.

When it comes to his handling of the puck, Martin said he lets his teammates take the lead.

“As far as the goalie playing the puck, we communicate really well and it’s a team effort,” Martin said. “We have a game plan. We press really hard at our blue line so it forces a lot of dump-ins and they give me good directions. I’m just trying to get it to the guys and give them the easiest play out of our zone.”

Having been a goaltender his entire life, there is not a forward waiting to emerge from behind the mask. However, Martin did reveal he has “played some winger in beer-league games during the summer.”

With the assists piling up, the question begs: Is Martin looking to score a goalie goal?

“For sure—I haven’t gotten that yet at any level,” a still smiling Martin said. “If it’s open I’ll shoot it, but at the same time I’m not going to do anything that hurts the team.”

IMPACT PLAY OF THE WEEK

Moments after goaltender Spencer Martin stoned former Wolves forward Rocco Grimaldi during a five-on-three advantage for the Monsters during Thursday night’s game, Skyler Brind’Amour stepped out of the penalty box, broke in on Cleveland goaltender Jet Greaves and buried a forehand shot into the net for the shorthanded tally.

 

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

During Thursday night’s game in Cleveland, Wolves forward Nikita Pavlychev drilled the Monsters’ Jake Gaudet along the boards.

SAVE OF THE WEEK

Goaltender Spencer Martin made this sprawling save on the IceHogs’ Jackson Cates during the third period of Saturday night’s game in Rockford.

Weekly rewind (2-1-0-0)

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22

Wolves 6, Monsters 5 (OT): Bradly Nadeau had a goal—including the game-winner in overtime—and two assists while Austin Wagner, Noel Gunler, Charles-Alexis Legault, Skyler Brind’Amour and Domenick Fensore also scored for the Wolves. Scott Morrow and Ryan Suzuki each chipped in a pair of assists.

THURSDAY, JAN. 23

Monsters 3, Wolves 1: Rookie defenseman Scott Morrow scored but that was the only offense the Wolves could manage as they split the back-to-back games in Ohio.

SATURDAY, JAN. 25

Wolves 3, IceHogs 2 (OT): Bradly Nadeau notched the winner in overtime—and also had an assist in regulation–and Domenick Fensore and Ryan Suzuki also had goals as Chicago finished 2-1-0-0 on the trip. Justin Robidas chipped in two assists, including on Nadeau’s winner.

First Star of the Week

Where we stand

20-16-2-0, fourth in the Central Division.

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