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Forward Ryan Suzuki embracing the moment
On the eve of the Wolves’ do-or-die Game 5 of the Central Division Semifinals against the Texas Stars on Tuesday night at Allstate Arena, coach Spiros Anastas sent Ryan Suzuki a text message.
“I told him how much I believe in him and how much our team is responsive to how he plays,” Anastas said. “Ryan is one of the pulses of our room and I think he took that to heart.”
Did he ever.
All the veteran forward did was score three goals—including one 26 seconds into the game—to propel the Wolves to a 6-1 victory and advance to the Central Division Finals beginning next week.
“I love when the games get hard and the moment gets big,” Suzuki said. “It’s fun hockey because every game matters, every shift matters. It’s do-or-die almost every game and I feel privileged to be in them.”
Suzuki, who had 13 goals—including three game-winners—and 35 assists in 66 regular-season contests, was a force throughout the series against the Stars as he shifted his focus from setting up teammates to shooting the puck himself. The 24-year-old led the Wolves with 16 shots during the series and the result was four total goals and two assists to lead the Wolves in scoring.
“Being a pass-first guy, teams might not have respect for my shot as much,” Suzuki said. “It was kind of a point that I made to take more shots. Obviously, when you get the puck on net it has a chance to go in. I’ve been doing that.”
After missing the Wolves’ run to the 2022 Calder Cup championship due to a back injury, Suzuki is enjoying every moment of this postseason.
“Any time you get a chance to play in the playoffs, it’s what you play for all year,” Suzuki said. “These are the games players want to play in and we don’t take it lightly. We’re going to do everything we can to bring another Calder Cup here.”
–Chris Kuc
‘part of my dna’
After the Wolves’ crushing overtime loss to the Stars in Game 4 of the Central Division Semifinals last week, teammates turned to veteran defenseman Juuso Valimaki for guidance.
Valimaki reminded them to trust the work they had put in throughout the season and the Wolves responded with arguably their best effort of the season and dispatched the Stars to advance to the division finals.
“We knew we were in a good spot and these are the games you want to play in,” the 27-year-old Valimaki said.
For most players on the Wolves, this postseason run represents unfamiliar territory. Since winning the Calder Cup in 2022, the Wolves missed the playoffs in 2023 and ’24 before being swept by the Rockford IceHogs in the qualifying round last season.
That lack of postseason experience has made veterans like Valimaki especially important inside the locker room.
The Finnish blueliner arrived in Chicago after being acquired by the Carolina Hurricanes via a trade with the Utah Mammoth on Jan. 5. Valimaki brought with him significant postseason experience from his time with the Stockton Heat, including a run to the 2022 Western Conference Finals that ended against a Wolves team on its way to a fifth league championship.
Välimäki believes that experience has helped shape the leadership role he now embraces with Chicago’s younger players.
“We have a young group and [I’ve] been around a long time in different situations,” Valimaki said. “I feel like I can help everyone be on the same page and know what to expect.
“That’s kind of part of my DNA, being vocal and trying to lead by example,” he added. “At the end of the day, everything is about being together. The tighter you are, the better you are going to be on the ice. If I can ever help anyone individually, if I can help the team to be better, I’ll be proud of that. I love my teammates, and love to be around them.”
Valimaki’s impact has extended beyond his voice. In five games against Texas, the defenseman recorded three points, including two goals in Game 2 and an assist in Game 4.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a system that is so effective when you are doing it right,” Valimaki said. “When everyone has bought into what we’re doing, it’s very hard to beat us.
“Going into the next round, quite honestly, I don’t think it really matters who we’re playing against,” he continued. “If we play the same way and we buy in, it doesn’t really matter. It’s all about us.”
–Brandon Wolak
IMPACT NETWORKING PLAY OF THE WEEK
Late in the second period of Game 5 against the Texas Stars on Tuesday night at Allstate Arena, Viktor Neuchev added to the Wolves’ lead off a nice passing play from fellow forward Felix Unger Sorum.
C.D.E. COLLISION CENTERS’ COLLISION OF THE WEEK
Wolves defenseman Domenick Fensore delivered a crushing hit to the Texas Stars’ Matthew Seminoff during Game 4 on Sunday at Allstate Arena.
SAVE OF THE WEEK
While shorthanded during Game 4 against Texas on Sunday at Allstate Arena, Wolves goaltender Cayden Primeau made a miraculous, desperation glove save on the Stars’ Matthew Seminoff during overtime.
Weekly rewind (3-1)
THURSDAY, APRIL 30
Wolves 5, Stars 4 (OT): The Wolves rallied from three separate deficits to stun the Stars in overtime in Game 2 of the Central Division Semifinals. Domenick Fensore scored the game-winner in overtime, Juuso Valimaki had two goals, Cal Foote scored and added an assist and Noel Gunler also tallied as the Wolves evened the best-of-five series at 1-1.
SATURDAY, MAY 2
Wolves 2, Stars 1: Noah Philp and Ryan Suzuki scored to propel the Wolves to the victory in their first home postseason contest since Chicago’s 2022 Calder Cup championship run.
SUNDAY, MAY 3
Stars 5, Wolves 4 (OT): The Wolves got goals from Bradly Nadeau, Evan Vierling, Ivan Ryabkin and Noah Philp but the Stars rallied to even the best-of-five 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs series.
TUESDAY, MAY 5
Wolves 6, Stars 1: Ryan Suzuki scored three goals, Josiah Slavin, Viktor Neuchev and Aleksi Heimosalmi each tallied and Bradly Nadeau chipped in two assists to help the Wolves close out the best-of-five series and move on to play the winner of the Grand Rapids/Manitoba division semis matchup.
First Star of the WEEK
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RYAN SUZUKI, CThe 24-year-old from London, Ontario, led the way offensively for the Wolves during the Central Division Semifinals against the Texas Stars. The veteran center produced a hat trick in Game 5 and finished with six points (four goals, two assists) during the five-game series. |
WHAT’S NEXT?
The Wolves will face the winner of the Grand Rapids Griffins/Manitoba Moose Central Division Semifinals series in the division finals (dates and times to be announced).
For information on Wolves tickets for the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
