Charlotte Snaps Wolves Home Streak
Published on December 31, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release
Rosemont, Ill.---The Chicago Wolves home winning streak didn't make it safely into 2012 as the Charlotte Checkers picked up a 4-1 American Hockey League victory Saturday night before 7,612 at Allstate Arena.
Charlotte goaltender Mike Murphy delivered 29 saves --- including 14 during an intense third period --- to bring the Wolves five-game home winning streak to a close. Forward Anton Rodin produced Chicago's goal at 10:24 of the third period.
Kevin Connauton and Chris Tanev earned assists while goaltender Matt Climie stopped 17 shots for the Wolves (16-12-1-3), who finished 2011 with seven wins in their last 10 games.
"I was disappointed with the way we started," said Wolves head coach Craig MacTavish. "We played a bit better in the second, but we just couldn't get it done tonight."
Midwest Division-leading Charlotte (19-11-2-1) took the lead for good on left wing Nicolas Blanchard's goal at 5:45 of the first period. Defenseman Brett Bellemore fired a shot from the right point toward the slot, where Blanchard deflected the puck past Climie (9-5-0) for the goal.
The Checkers boosted their lead to 2-0 on Jerome Samson's power-play goal from the point at 12:43 of the second period. Charlotte made it 3-0 late in the second period as center Zach Boychuk tracked down a deflected puck in the left circle and wristed it into the net.
The Wolves goal came at the 10:24 mark of the third period. Connauton, working from the left point, slid a pass to Rodin in the right circle and the rookie from Sweden blasted the puck past Murphy (12-7) for his fourth goal of the season.
The Wolves play their first game of the New Year against Lake Erie at 7 p.m. Saturday at Allstate Arena.
American Hockey League Stories from December 31, 2011
- Peoria tops Rockford, 3-2 in a penalty filled affair - Peoria Rivermen
- Rampage End 2011 with 4-3 Victory Over Barons - San Antonio Rampage
- Kings Starts Fireworks Early - Manchester Monarchs
- McCollum Leads Griffins to Big NYE Win - Grand Rapids Griffins
- New Year's Eve Overtime Win - Adirondack Phantoms
- Peoria Outlasts Rockford 3-2 - Rockford IceHogs
- Devils Fall in OT at Adirondack - Albany Devils
- Admirals Battle Back to Earn Point in Hershey - Norfolk Admirals
- Bears Shoot out of 2011 with 3-2 Win Over Norfolk - Hershey Bears
- B-Sens Fizzle in 2011 Finale, Fall to Crunch 6-2 - Binghamton Senators
- Monsters End 2011 with Come-From-Behind Shootout Win - Cleveland Monsters
- P-Bruins Fall to Monarchs 2-1 - Providence Bruins
- Falcons Fall to Whale - Springfield Falcons
- Crunch Close 2011 with 6-2 Win Over Binghamton - Syracuse Crunch
- Ads Fall to Grand Rapids to Close out 2011 - Milwaukee Admirals
- Whale Cloe out 2011 with 5-2 Win - Connecticut Whale
- Sound Tigers Fall 4-2 to Penguins - Bridgeport Islanders
- Second-Period Burst Leads Penguins Past Sound Tigers - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Sharks End 2011 with a Thud, Fall 4-2 in Portland - Worcester Sharks
- IceCaps Release Shayne Wiebe - St. John's IceCaps
- Charlotte Snaps Wolves Home Streak - Chicago Wolves
- Checkers Extend Point Streak to Five Games - Charlotte Checkers
- Bulldogs Earn One Point in 3-2 Shootout Loss - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Oilers Assign Colten Teubert to Oklahoma City - Oklahoma City Barons
- Panthers Send Dadonov to Rampage - San Antonio Rampage
- Adam Cracknell Returns to Rivermen - Peoria Rivermen
- Rangers Return Sean Avery to Whale - Connecticut Whale
- Sabres Recall Defenseman Brennan - Rochester Americans
- Griffins Call on McCollum - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Blue Jackets Recall Defenseman David Savard from AHL's Springfield Falcons - Springfield Falcons
- Bears Sign Forward Matt Pope to Two-Year Contract - Hershey Bears
- Sound Tigers Comeback Falls Short in 3-2 Loss to Admirals - Bridgeport Islanders
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