Wolves Weekly Notes
January 26, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release
UPS AND DOWNS
The Chicago Wolves started last week on a high note with road wins against Midwest Division rivals Rockford and Grand Rapids but were swept in their trip to Texas to enter the American Hockey League All-Star break on a two-game losing streak. The team will look to turn it around with a home-and-home against the IceHogs on Friday and Saturday, a squad it is 3-4-0-1 against this season. Rockford holds the points lead in the standings for the Illinois Lottery Cup, which was won by the Wolves in 2013-14. After seeing each other five times in January, Chicago and Rockford will meet just twice the rest of the season: March 15 at Allstate Arena and April 17 at the MetroCentre.
WOLVES HEADLINERS
--- SHANE HARPER: Accrued six points (3G, 3A) in four games last week, including multi-point games (G, A) on Jan. 19 and Jan. 23 ... Has eight points (5G, 3A) in his last seven games and nine points (6G, 3A) in 10 games in the month of January ... Tied with TY RATTIE for the team lead in goals (17) and is tied for third in points (26) ... Tied for third in the league in power-play goals (8) and current road point streak (seven points in last five games) and ranks third in shooting percentage (24.3) ... Surpassed his previous AHL season high of 13 goals on Jan. 16 ... The Wolves hold a 14-3-0-0 record in games which he scores
--- JORDAN BINNINGTON: Was between the pipes for all four of the Wolves' games last week to give him five straight starts, the most in his AHL career and tied for most by a Wolves netminder this season (MATT CLIMIE, Nov. 23 to Dec. 3) ... Posted a 2-2-1 record in that stretch with a 2.57 goals-against average and .912 save percentage, allowing 13 goals but just eight even-strength markers ... Has posted a 12-8-2 record, 2.48 goals-against average, and .909 save percentage in 22 games this season, his second as a pro and first with the Wolves
--- PAT CANNONE: Posted six points (3G, 3A) in four games last week to keep pace with linemate SHANE HARPER ... Was on the ice for nine of the Wolves' 12 non-empty-net goals last week ... Has collected 11 points (3G, 8A) in 10 games in January, tied for the most productive month of his AHL career (March 2014 and December 2011) ... Tied for first in the league with a current road point streak of eight points in his last six games (Jan. 10-present) ... Leads the Wolves in points (31) and assists (22) through 43 games
--- PETTERI LINDBOHM: Compiled four points (2G, 2A) in four games last week, snapping a season-high six-game scoreless streak ... Dished out two assists on Jan. 19 at Rockford, his first multi-point game in the AHL ... Notched goals in both games at Texas, his first time scoring in consecutive AHL contests ... Is tied for second in scoring among Wolves defensemen with 14 points (6G, 8A) in 33 games ... Paces team blueliners with 75 shots on goal ... Appeared in nine games with St. Louis (NHL), posting one assist and 12 shots on goal
--- PHILIP McRAE: Contributed four points (3G, A) last week, including a two-goal night against Texas on Saturday ... It was his second two-goal game (Oct. 31 at Grand Rapids) and seventh multi-point game of the season ... Tied for third on the team with 26 points (14G, 12A) in 40 games and tied for second among active skaters with a 0.65 points-per-game rate ... Already tied for his second-most productive AHL season and is on pace to surpass his previous career high of 39 points, set in 2011-12 with Peoria
WOLF TRACKS
--- Right wing TY RATTIE and head coach JOHN ANDERSON are participating in this week's 2015 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Turning Stone Resort Casino. In last night's skills competition, RATTIE competed in the "Puck Control Relay," the "Pass and Score," and the "Breakaway Relay," but the Eastern Conference topped the Western Conference 15-11. Tonight's game starts at 6 p.m. and can be seen on Comcast SportsNet Chicago on a one-hour delay.
--- Right wing ADAM BURISH notched his first goal with the team on Wednesday in Grand Rapids, sealing the 4-2 win with an empty-net marker.
--- Left wing TERRY BROADHURST recorded five assists in four games last week, including a career-high three-point outing on Wednesday in Grand Rapids.
--- Right wing CODY BEACH leads the league in penalty minutes, racking up 170 in 34 games this season. The next-closest player on the Wolves is YANNICK VEILLEUX with 59 PIM.
--- Multiple Wolves hit milestones last week as left wing BEN EAGER skated in his 600th professional game (NHL, AHL, and KHL) on Jan. 19 while forward ROB BORDSON skated in his 300th AHL game and recorded his 100th AHL point on Jan. 21.
--- Saturday's game in Texas marked the fourth time this season and first time on the road that the Wolves have allowed multiple power-play goals in a contest. Chicago ranks 14th in the league with an 83.1 percent success rate (123-for-148), but is eighth on the road (87.2 percent) and 29th at home (77.4 percent).
--- On the other side of special teams, the Wolves' power-play unit has continued to find the back of the net. Chicago has recorded man-advantage markers in five consecutive games and ranks fourth overall at 21.1 percent (36-for-171), including the best road power play in the league (25 percent) but 18th at home (15.5 percent).
--- Chicago's skid against Texas stands at six games and the team has not topped the Stars since March 5, 2013. The Wolves have earned one of a possible 12 points in that stretch but will have a chance to snap the streak when Texas visits Allstate Arena on March 19 and April 4.
--- The Wolves' perfect record when scoring four or more goals came to an end on Saturday in their 5-4 loss to Texas. Chicago was 14-0-0-0 when scoring four-plus going into the tilt.
--- Wednesday's contest in Grand Rapids tied three franchise records: fewest penalty minutes for the Wolves (0, set three times), fewest penalty minutes by an opponent (2, set 12 times), and fewest combined penalty minutes (2, set four times).
WOLVES REWIND (2-2-0-0)
Saturday, Jan. 24
(at) Texas 5, Chicago 4
--- An up-tempo game that featured three lead changes did not go the Wolves' way as they lost 5-4 at Cedar Park Center, dropping their sixth straight to the Texas Stars
--- Center PHILIP McRAE tallied twice while center PAT CANNONE and defenseman PETTERI LINDBOHM rounded out the scoring
--- Goaltender JORDAN BINNINGTON made 30 saves
Friday, Jan. 23
(at) Texas 3, Chicago 2
--- The Wolves spotted the defending Calder Cup champions a 2-0 lead in the second period and could not rally in a 3-2 loss at Cedar Park Center
--- Defenseman PETTERI LINDBOHM scored on the power play while right wing SHANE HARPER added a tally with 16.3 seconds left to play
--- Goaltender JORDAN BINNINGTON stopped 26 of 29 shots
Wednesday, Jan. 21
Chicago 4, (at) Grand Rapids 2
--- The Wolves posted three goals in the final 38 minutes as they rallied from an early 1-0 deficit in a Midwest Division tilt at Van Andel Arena to snap a two-game losing streak against Grand Rapids
--- Forwards SHANE HARPER, PAT CANNONE, and TY RATTIE scored while ADAM BURISH posted his first with the Wolves on an empty-net goal
--- Goaltender JORDAN BINNINGTON thwarted 30 shots to earn his second win in a row
Monday, Jan. 19
Chicago 4, (at) Rockford 1
--- The Wolves avenged Saturday's shootout loss with a 4-1 takedown of Rockford at the MetroCentre, scoring three third-period goals to seal the win and close the gap in the Illinois Lottery Cup standings
--- Center PHILIP McRAE opened scoring on a first-period 5-on-3 and forwards SHANE HARPER, PAT CANNONE, and COLIN FRASER added the go-ahead and insurance markers in the final frame
--- Goaltender JORDAN BINNINGTON kicked out 29 of 30 shots for his first win since Dec. 26
THIS WEEK:
Fri., Jan. 30* at Rockford IceHogs$ MetroCentre 7 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 31* vs. Rockford IceHogs$ Allstate Arena 7 p.m.
$Illinois Lottery Cup
*U-Too
GAMES WILL BE TELECAST LIVE ON THE U-TOO OR WCIU
Log on to chicagowolves.com for broadcast schedule, or to watch or listen to the action live online
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