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 Chicago Wolves

Wolves clinch best record in western conference in final tune up before playoffs

April 13, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release


ROSEMONT, Ill.---The Chicago Wolves finished their 14th regular-season and wrapped up the best record in the American Hockey League's Western Conference with a 5-3 victory over the Peoria Rivermen at the Allstate Arena on Sunday.

Center Jason Krog netted two goals in the contest to secure his spot as just the third player in the 72-year history of the league - and first since 1985 - to lead the circuit in goals (39), assists (73) and points (112). The 32-year-old forward finished with a 24-point edge for the scoring title, becoming the second straight Wolves player to accomplish the feat.

Right wing Darren Haydar put Chicago ahead for good with 1:56 remaining in regulation after the squad surrendered a 3-0 third-period lead. Krog sealed the tilt with an empty-net goal after linemate Brett Sterling sprung him in the neutral zone.

The first-seeded Wolves (53-22-2-3) will open their 13th postseason bid in 14 years when they host the fourth-seeded Milwaukee Admirals in Game 1 of the West Division Semifinal at the Allstate Arena on Wed., April 16 at 7 p.m. Chicago's 53 wins and 111 points rank second overall in the AHL.

Sterling finished tied for second in the league with 37 goals, one off Krog's lead. The Los Angeles native led the league and tied a franchise record with 10 game-winning goals this season.

Joel Kwiatkowski's 21st goal of the season - the most by an AHL defenseman - gave Chicago a 1-0 lead at the 14:55 mark of the opening period. One second after a power-play chance expired, Kwiatkowski stepped toward the far circle and snapped a shot over Peoria goaltender Hannu Toivonen's left shoulder.

Toivonen notched eight saves on 10 shots in one period of work before giving way to Chris Beckford-Tseu (15-14-2), who recorded 28 saves in the final 40 minutes.

With Peoria working on a five-on-three power play, Krog beat a pair of defenders to a loose puck in the neutral zone before potting his 38th goal of the season to make it a 2-0 Chicago lead with 1:55 remaining in the first period.

Sterling netted his 38th goal of the year with a power-play strike at the 17:17 mark of the second period to push Chicago's lead to 3-0. The 23-year-old forward picked up a rebound while stationed in the crease and flicked the puck into the top shelf of the net.

Peoria (38-33-4-5) scored twice in a 36-second span early in the third period to slash Chicago's lead to 3-2. Right wing Martin Kariya cracked the scoreboard for the Rivermen 4:19 into the period before center Jean-Guy Trudel dented the net at the 4:55 mark.

Rivermen center Nicholas Drazenovic tied the game at three apiece when he ripped a wrist shot from the top of the circle by Wolves goaltender Ondrej Pavelec at the 9:19 mark of the third period. Pavelec (33-16-3) stopped 30 shots in the win and finished the season with the second-highest single-season win total in franchise history, surpassing the mark set by Wolves Assistant Coach Wendell Young in 1999-2000.


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