Chicago Wolves Game Notes

Transcription

1 Chicago Wolves Game Notes CHICAGO AT GRAND RAPIDS NOVEMBER 28, p.m. AHLTV STARTING THE SECOND QUARTER The Chicago Wolves wrapped up the first quarter of the 76-game American Hockey League schedule with a record, which represents the franchise s best start since Considering each of the last two Wolves teams posted a sub-.500 record over the first 19 games -- only to improve markedly the rest of the way and claim the Central Division title -- there s reason to believe the same can happen again this year. TALE OF THE TAPE REGULAR-SEASON SERIES Grand Rapids Chicago Why are the Wolves off to a solid start? The team s offense is a good place to begin. Rocky Thompson s squad leads the Western Conference and ranks third in the AHL with 3.89 goals per game. If the Wolves maintain this pace, then this edition will rank second in the team s 25-year history in goals per game as the squad averaged 4.14 per game. Chicago boasts three of the league s top 11 scorers in Brandon Pirri (8G, 14A), Daniel Carr (9G, 13A) and Brooks Macek (14G, 7A). Carr led the AHL in points when he was recalled from loan by the NHL s Vegas Golden Knights on Thanksgiving -- he opened the scoring for the Golden Knights in their 8-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night -- while Macek continues to pace the AHL in goals. As for consistency, the Wolves are one of just four AHL teams that have scored at least two goals in every game -- joining Providence, Rochester and San Diego. UP AND DOWN THE LINEUP The Wolves employed the same 18 skaters for the three-in-three over the weekend and, not only did 16 of them dent the scoresheet over the course of those hectic 47 hours, the team s 12 goals were compiled by 10 players. Right wing Tomas Hyka, who spent the last six weeks with Vegas before returning to Chicago on Thanksgiving, and right wing Keegan Kolesar, who entered the weekend with one goal in 16 games, were the Wolves multi-goal scorers. Keegs and I had a couple meetings early in the year, said Wolves head coach Rocky Thompson. I thought he wasn t playing poorly early in the year. He was a little bit snake-bitten. There was a lot of bad luck. It d seem he d get on the ice, not really be involved in a play, and a goal would go in. That wears on you. Then he was running into some pretty good saves (against him). So I wasn t disappointed in his game early on. It was just a matter of he s going to turn the corner. Things will start to go for him again if he stuck to it, stuck to the process, and he has. Kolesar isn t the only youngster who s enjoying a recent renaissance. Center Reid Duke ranks among the team s hottest scorers over the last two weeks. The rookie produced 5 points (3G, 2A) in the team s first five games. After going nine games without a point, Duke delivered a goal on Nov. 17 against Iowa to set the table for 6 points (2G, 4A) over the last five games. OVER THE WEEKEND... SUNDAY, NOV. 25 ROCKFORD 3, ( at) CHICAGO 2 The Wolves removed the goalie and forward Reid Duke scored a late goal to pull the team within 1, but Rockford held on for the Illinois Lottery Cup victory at Allstate Arena Forward Tomas Hyka joined Duke in the scoring column while center T.J. Tynan earned an assist for the sixth game in a row Goaltender Max Lagace notched 19 saves SATURDAY, NOV. 24 GRAND RAPIDS 4, ( at) CHICAGO 3 (OT) Defenseman Griffin Reinhart scored a short-handed goal late in the third period to force overtime, but Grand Rapids Filip Hronek scored the game-winner 2:36 into extra time Forwards Tyler Wong and Keegan Kolesar scored first-period goals to stake the Wolves to a 2-0 lead while defenseman Jake Bischoff posted two assists Goaltender Oscar Dansk recorded 27 saves LEADING SCORERS GRAND RAPIDS CHICAGO Skater G A Pts Skater G A Pts Terry Carr Camper Pirri Elson Macek Puempel Tynan SERIES GAME-BY-GAME Date Location Result SF-SA PP PK Oct. 13 Allstate Arena W, Oct. 20 Van Andel Arena L, Nov. 24 Allstate Arena OTL, Nov. 28 Van Andel Arena 6 p.m. Jan. 16 Allstate Arena 7 p.m. Feb. 10 Van Andel Arena 3 p.m. Feb. 23 Allstate Arena 7 p.m. March 29 Van Andel Arena 6 p.m. THROWING IT BACK TO 1996 On March 24, 1996, Rob Brown set multiple team records that endure today as he produced 2 goals and 6 assists in the Wolves 10-3 win over Grand Rapids in what was then known as the Rosemont Horizon. What else was happening in the world then? The expansion Toronto Raptors, who entered the night with a record of 17-49, shocked the Chicago Bulls with a win. Michael Jordan scored a game-high 36 points for the Bulls (60-8), who played without Dennis Rodman. Celine Dion s Because You Loved Me started a sixweek reign atop the Billboard Top 100 charts. The movie Executive Decision, starring Kurt Russell, Steven Seagal and Halle Berry, was released the week before and on its way to earning $122 million, Illinois held elections three days earlier. Gov. Rod Blagojevich spent $4 million on ads to win his race, which sounds like a quaint number these days. ALL-TIME RECORD BREAKDOWN Seasons Home Road Overall

2 Chicago Wolves Game Notes BY THE NUMBERS 1 No team enjoys playing the first period as much as the Chicago Wolves. Rocky Thompson s crew only has trailed once heading into the first intermission this year -- and that happened the last time the Wolves played in Grand Rapids (on Oct. 20). The Wolves have outscored foes in the first period this season. That +16 differential nearly doubles the next-best first-period team in the league as Charlotte owns a +9 differential. By the way, the Wolves have scored the game s first goal in 12 of their 19 games overall, including five of the last six. 10 The Wolves rank 10th in the AHL -- but first in the Central Division -- with 16.3 penalty minutes per game. That doesn t jibe with the tone set by Rocky Thompson s first Wolves squad as last year s group ranked 25th with 11.6 penalty minutes per game. But this year s PIMS help to explain why the Wolves are in a four-way tie for ninth place in power-play chances allowed (92) and tied for sixth in power-play goals allowed (21). 13 Erik Brännström shares 12th among all AHL defensemen with 13 points (3G, 10A). The 19-year-old from Eksjo, Sweden, shares first among all rookie blueliners in points as he and Utica s Olli Juolevi (13 points) are the only rookies among the top 17 d-men. 14 Though he hasn t scored in the last six games, Brooks Macek continues to lead the AHL with 14 goals. The 26-year-old from Winnipeg s 14 goals are not a franchise record for most goals after 19 games: Steve Maltais produced 23 goals in the Wolves first 19 games of , Rob Brown notched 16 in , Brett Sterling posted 16 in and Jason Krog delivered 15 goals in Brandon Pirri ranks among the most dangerous players in the American Hockey League, so it makes sense that he leads the league in shots with 82. He s firing a little more frequently than in years past. This is his sixth full or partial season in the AHL and this marks the first time he has averaged more than 3.65 shots per game. On the flip side, he s converting just 9.8 percent of his shots, which is well off his 11.6 percent career rate. This suggests there could be a bushel of goals in his future as he regresses to the mean. 353 If you ve suited up for the Wolves, chances are better than 50/50 that you ve also played in the National Hockey League. When Daniel Carr, Curtis McKenzie and Zach Whitecloud made their Wolves debuts on Oct. 5, they became the 351st, 352nd and 353rd players (out of 615 Wolves all-time) who have competed for the Wolves and in the NHL. That 57.4 percent overall success rate is even higher among goaltenders. Of the 54 players who ve tended the net for the Wolves over the years -- starting with original goaltenders Ray LeBlanc and Wendell Young and continuing through current Wolves Max Lagace and Oscar Dansk boast NHL experience (68.5 percent). 6,532 This is the number of days between Brooks Macek s five-assist effort on Nov. 7 at Milwaukee and the previous five-assist game by a Wolves player. Rob Brown, who holds the team s single-game (6) and single-season (91) assist records, handed out five assists on Dec. 19, 2000, in a 7-5 victory at Kansas City. UPCOMING GAMES Date Opponent Venue Time Saturday, Dec. 1 vs. San Antonio** Allstate Arena 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2 vs. Texas* Allstate Arena 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5 at Iowa^ Wells Fargo Arena 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7 at Iowa^ Wells Fargo Arena 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8 at Rockford** BMO Harris Bank Center 6 p.m. All times Central ^AHLTV only *The U Too **CW50 For complete television and game schedules, visit ChicagoWolves.com All games stream live on AHLTV (TheAHL.com/AHLTV) HOME-ROAD CONTRASTS Regular Season Home Away Difference Goals For Goals Against RECORD BY DIVISION Record Win % Central North Pacific RECORD BY MONTH Record Win % October November December January February March April IN OVERTIME (2-2) Goaltender Saves-Shots SV% Oscar Dansk (2-1) Max Lagace (0-1) IN THE SHOOTOUT (0-1) Shooter Goals-Chances SH% T.J. Tynan Erik Brännström Daniel Carr Reid Duke Brooks Macek Stefan Matteau Brandon Pirri Goaltender Saves-Shots SV% Oscar Dansk RECORD BREAKDOWN When the Wolves... Record score four or more goals allow two or fewer goals outshoot their opponent score first score a power-play goal allow a power-play goal score a short-handed goal allow a short-handed goal lead after one period trail after one period lead after two periods trail after two periods are in a one-goal game play at home play on the road

3 REGULAR-SEASON HIGHS AND LOWS Most Goals Scored in a Game 7 at Rockford Nov. 23 Most Goals Allowed in a Game 7 vs. Milwaukee Nov. 11 Most Goals Scored in a Period 4 at Rockford Nov. 23 Most Goals Allowed in a Period 3 3rd period vs. Milwaukee Nov. 11 2nd period vs. Rockford Nov. 10 2nd period at Manitoba Nov. 2 Most Shots On Goal in a Game 43 vs. Manitoba Nov. 18 Most Shots On Goal Allowed in a Game 37 at Milwaukee Nov. 7 vs. Milwaukee Oct. 21 Most Shots On Goal in a Period 20 3rd period vs. Rockford Nov. 10 Most Shots On Goal Allowed in a Period 20 3rd period at Milwaukee Nov. 7 Fewest Shots On Goal in a Game 17 at Colorado Oct. 5 Fewest Shots On Goal Allowed in a Game 19 vs. Manitoba Nov. 18 Fewest Shots On Goal in a Period 3 3rd period vs. Grand Rapids Oct. 13 Fewest Shots On Goal Allowed in a Period 2 3rd period at San Antonio Oct. 28 Most PPG in a Game 3 vs. Iowa Nov. 17 Most PPG Allowed in a Game 3 at San Antonio Oct. 28 vs. Milwaukee Oct. 21 vs. Milwaukee Oct. 14 Most SHG in a Game 1 vs. Grand Rapids (Reinhart) Nov. 24 at San Antonio (Quinney) Oct. 28 Most SHG Against in a Game 1 vs. Grand Rapids (Elson) Nov. 24 Longest Winning Streak 4 Oct Longest Home Winning Streak 2 Oct Longest Road Winning Streak 3 Nov. 3-present Longest Winless Streak 3 Nov Longest Home Winless Streak 3 Nov Longest Road Winless Streak 2 Oct. 28-Nov. 2 Most PIM in a Game 29 at San Antonio Oct. 28 Most Combined PIM in a Game 49 at Colorado Oct. 6 Quickest Wolves Goal from Start of Game 0:34 vs. Cleveland (Quinney) Oct. 24 Quickest Opponent Goal from Start of Game 3:22 vs. Grand Rapids (Pope) Oct. 13 Shortest Time Between Two Wolves Goals 0:10 at Colorado (Quinney/Duke) Oct. 6 Shortest Time Between Two Opponent Goals 0:23 vs. Milwaukee (Grimaldi/Grimaldi) Oct. 14 Shortest Time Between Two Goals 0:12 vs. Milwaukee (Wong/Richard) Nov. 11 Largest Margin of Victory 5 at Rockford Nov. 23 Largest Margin of Defeat 5 vs. Milwaukee Nov. 11 Largest Crowd at Home 11,794 vs. Milwaukee Nov. 11 Hat Tricks this Year 3 at Milwaukee (Carr/4) Nov. 7 vs. Cleveland (Quinney) Oct. 24 vs. Grand Rapids (Macek) Oct. 13 Hat Tricks Against this Year Shutouts this Year Shutouts Against this Year Penalty Shots this Year Penalty Shots Against this Year INDIVIDUAL GAME-HIGHS Points 1. Brooks Macek 5 at MIL, Nov Daniel Carr 4 at MIL, Nov. 7 Brooks Macek 4 vs. CLE, Oct Zach Whitecloud 3 at RFD, Nov. 23 Curtis McKenzie 3 at RFD, Nov. 23 Brandon Pirri 3 vs. RFD, Nov. 10 Gage Quinney 3 vs. CLE, Oct. 24 Dylan Coghlan 3 vs. MIL, Oct. 14 Curtis McKenzie 3 vs. MIL, Oct. 14 Brooks Macek 3 vs. GR, Oct. 13 Daniel Carr 3 vs. GR, Oct. 13 Goals 1. Daniel Carr 4 at MIL, Nov Gage Quinney 3 vs. CLE, Oct. 24 Brooks Macek 3 vs. GR, Oct Brandon Pirri 2 vs. IA, Nov. 17 Brooks Macek 2 vs. RFD, Nov. 10 Brooks Macek 2 at MB, Nov. 3 Brooks Macek 2 vs. CLE, Oct. 24 Brooks Macek 2 vs. MIL, Oct. 21 Gage Quinney 2 at COL, Oct. 6 Reid Duke 2 at COL, Oct. 6 Erik Brännström 2 at COL, Oct. 5 Assists 1. Brooks Macek 5 at MIL, Nov Brandon Pirri 3 vs. RFD, Nov. 10 Daniel Carr 3 vs. GR, Oct TIED 2 (most recently) Jake Bischoff 2 vs. GR, Nov. 24 Zach Whitecloud 2 at RFD, Nov. 23 Curtis McKenzie 2 at RFD, Nov. 23 Reid Duke 2 at RFD, Nov. 23 Reid Duke 2 vs. MB, Nov. 18 Daniel Carr 2 vs. IA, Nov. 17 Nic Hague 2 at MIL, Nov. 7 T.J. Tynan 2 at MB, Nov. 3 Brandon Pirri 2 at MB, Nov. 2 Curtis McKenzie 2 at MB, Nov. 2 PIM 1. Alex Gallant 15 at SA, Oct Alex Gallant 12 at COL, Oct Curtis McKenzie 7 vs. GR, Nov. 24 Alex Gallant 7 vs. MIL, Nov. 11 Stefan Matteau 7 at GR, Oct. 20 Stefan Matteau 7 vs. GR, Oct. 13 +/- 1. Zach Whitecloud +5 at RFD, Nov. 23 Nic Hague +5 at COL, Oct. 6 Zac Leslie +5 at COL, Oct Nic Hague +4 at RFD, Nov. 23 Daniel Carr +4 vs. CLE, Oct. 24 Brooks Macek +4 vs. CLE, Oct. 24 Shots 1. Brandon Pirri 8 vs. MB, Nov Erik Brännström 7 at RFD, Nov. 23 Daniel Carr 7 vs. RFD, Nov. 10 Daniel Carr 7 at MIL, Nov. 7 Brandon Pirri 7 at COL, Oct. 6 Saves 1. Oscar Dansk 34 at MIL, Nov Max Lagace 33 at RFD, Nov Oscar Dansk 32 vs. MIL, Oct. 21 Max Lagace 32 vs. GR, Oct. 13

4 BROADCAST SCHEDULE No. Date Time* Opponent Broadcast** 21. Dec. 1 7 p.m. vs. San Antonio CW Dec. 2 4 p.m. vs. Texas The U Too 23. Dec. 5 7 p.m. at Iowa AHLTV 24. Dec. 7 7 p.m. at Iowa AHLTV 25. Dec. 8 6 p.m. at Rockford CW Dec p.m. vs. Tucson CW Dec p.m. vs. Tucson The U Too 28. Dec a.m. vs. Texas AHLTV 29. Dec p.m. vs. Rockford The U Too 30. Dec p.m. at Milwaukee CW Dec p.m. at Milwaukee AHLTV 32. Dec p.m. at Rockford The U Too 33. Dec p.m. vs. Rockford CW Dec. 31 2:30 p.m. at Iowa AHLTV 35. Jan. 2 7 p.m. vs. Iowa AHLTV 36. Jan. 4 7 p.m. vs. San Antonio The U Too 37. Jan. 5 7 p.m. vs. San Antonio CW Jan p.m. at Tucson AHLTV 39. Jan p.m. at Tucson AHLTV 40. Jan p.m. vs. Grand Rapids AHLTV 41. Jan p.m. vs. Rockford CW Jan p.m. vs. Milwaukee TheUToo/NHL 43. Jan p.m. at Cleveland AHLTV 44. Jan p.m. at Cleveland AHLTV 45. Feb. 1 7 p.m. at Rockford The U Too 46. Feb. 2 7 p.m. vs. Manitoba CW Feb. 9 1 p.m. at Milwaukee CW Feb p.m. at Grand Rapids AHLTV GAME-BY-GAME RESULTS No. Date Opponent Result Score Record CHI Goal OPP Goal SF-SA PP/PK 1. Oct. 5 at Colorado W (OT) Dansk Martin / Oct. 6 at Colorado W Lagace Martin / Oct. 13 vs. Grand Rapids W Lagace Rybar / Oct. 14 vs. Milwaukee W (OT) Dansk McCollum / Oct. 20 at Grand Rapids L Lagace Sateri / Oct. 21 vs. Milwaukee SOL Dansk McCollum / Oct. 24 vs. Cleveland W Lagace Berube / Oct. 26 at Texas W Dansk Bow / Oct. 28 at San Antonio L Lagace Binnington / Nov. 2 at Manitoba L Dansk Berdin / Nov. 3 at Manitoba W Dansk Appleby / Nov. 7 at Milwaukee W Dansk Grosenick / Nov. 10 vs. Rockford L Dansk Delia / Nov. 11 vs. Milwaukee L Dansk Grosenick / Nov. 17 vs. Iowa OTL Lagace Hoffman / Nov. 18 vs. Manitoba W Dansk Appleby / Nov. 23 at Rockford W Lagace Forsberg (L)/Delia / Nov. 24 vs. Grand Rapids OTL Dansk Sateri / Nov. 25 vs. Rockford L Lagace Forsberg / Nov. 28 at Grand Rapids No. Date Time* Opponent Broadcast** 49. Feb p.m. at Manitoba AHLTV 50. Feb p.m. at Manitoba AHLTV 51. Feb p.m. vs. Iowa CW50/NHL 52. Feb a.m. vs. Texas AHLTV 53. Feb p.m. vs. Grand Rapids CW Feb p.m. vs. Texas U Too/NHL 55. Feb p.m. vs. Rockford AHLTV 56. March 1 7 p.m. at Texas AHLTV 57. March 2 7 p.m. at Texas AHLTV 58. March 5 10:30 a.m. at San Antonio AHLTV 59. March 8 7 p.m. at Milwaukee The U Too 60. March 9 7 p.m. vs. Iowa CW March 10 4 p.m. vs. Milwaukee CW March 15 7 p.m. vs. Cleveland The U Too 63. March 16 7 p.m. vs. San Antonio CW March 20 7 p.m. at Rockford AHLTV 65. March 22 7 p.m. at Texas AHLTV 66. March 23 7 p.m. at San Antonio AHLTV 67. March 26 7 p.m. at San Antonio AHLTV 68. March 29 6 p.m. at Grand Rapids AHLTV 69. March 30 7 p.m. vs. Milwaukee CW March 31 4 p.m. at Rockford CW April 5 7 p.m. at Milwaukee The U Too 72. April 6 7 p.m. vs. Colorado CW April 7 3 p.m. vs. Colorado CW April 12 7 p.m. at Iowa AHLTV 75. April 13 7 p.m. vs. Manitoba CW April 14 4 p.m. vs. Manitoba CW50 * all game times Central ** all games stream on AHLTV (TheAHL.com/AHLTV)

5 PERSONNEL TRANSACTIONS 03/08/18 Add Ryan Wagner (RW) signed to SPC by Chicago (AHL) 05/10/18 Add Matthew Weis (C) signed to SPC by Chicago (AHL) 05/31/18 Add Tyler Wong (RW) signed to SPC by Chicago (AHL) 06/08/18 Add Kevin Lough (D) signed to SPC by Chicago (AHL) 09/18/18 Add Alex Gallant (LW) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 09/22/18 Add Reid Duke (C) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 09/22/18 Add Tomas Hyka (RW) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 09/22/18 Add Brooks Macek (RW) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 09/22/18 Add Zac Leslie (D) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 09/22/18 Add Oscar Dansk (G) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 09/22/18 Add Gage Quinney (LW) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 09/22/18 Add Dylan Coghlan (D) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 09/22/18 Add Zach Whitecloud (D) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 09/22/18 Add Jimmy Oligny (D) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 09/22/18 Add Zach Fucale (G) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 09/23/18 Add Nic Hague (D) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 09/23/18 Add Keegan Kolesar (RW) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 09/25/18 Add T.J. Tynan (C) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 09/25/18 Add Stefan Matteau (C) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 09/25/18 Add Griffin Reinhart (D) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 09/25/18 Add Max Lagace (G) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 09/27/18 Add Brandon Pirri (C) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 09/27/18 Add Erik Brännström (D) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 09/30/18 Delete Zach Fucale (G) reassigned by Vegas (NHL) to Fort Wayne (ECHL) 10/02/18 Add Curtis McKenzie (LW) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 10/02/18 Add Daniel Carr (LW) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 10/11/18 Delete Tomas Hyka (RW) recalled from loan by Vegas (NHL) 10/12/18 Add Jake Bischoff (D) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 10/14/18 Delete Jake Bischoff (D) recalled from loan by Vegas (NHL) 10/25/18 Add Jake Bischoff (D) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 10/30/18 Add Zach Fucale (G) reassigned by Vegas (NHL) from Fort Wayne (ECHL) 11/01/18 Delete Kevin Lough (D) loaned to Adirondack (ECHL) 11/14/18 Delete Zach Fucale (G) reassigned by Vegas (NHL) to Fort Wayne (ECHL) 11/22/18 Add Tomas Hyka (RW) loaned from Vegas (NHL) 11/22/18 Delete Daniel Carr (LW) recalled from loan by Vegas (NHL)