Wolves Fall in Home Opener
October 15, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release
ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Chicago Wolves dropped their home opener 4-2 to the Grand Rapids Griffins on Saturday night at Allstate Arena.
Rookie defenseman Vince Dunn scored his first professional goal and added an assist for the Wolves (0-2-0-0) in his first game. Goaltender Ville Husso (0-1-0) turned aside 24 shots in his North American professional debut.
"I thought it was a pretty solid effort," said Wolves head coach Craig Berube. "We just had a little bad luck. We've got to bury more pucks. We had opportunities."
The Wolves opened the first period with jump, generating a couple quality scoring chances, including a Brett Sterling point-blank shot from the center slot off a Grand Rapids turnover in the first minute. However, in the latter part of the frame, some Wolves penalty trouble turned things Grand Rapids' way.
Griffins forward Anthony Mantha took advantage of a Wolves turnover and zipped up ice for a breakaway goal at 14:32 of the first. In the last 15 seconds of the stanza, Grand Rapids (2-0-0-0) scored during a 4-on-3 man advantage when Robby Russo rifled a shot from the left point past Husso.
In the second period, Chicago again controlled play to start the frame, but the Griffins scored first to go up 3-0. At 11:24 Dunn potted his first professional goal with a shot from the left point to put the Wolves on the board. With just over three minutes left, and Chicago with the man advantage, Ivan Barbashev tipped a Brad Hunt shot between Jared Coreau's pads to pull the Wolves within a goal to end the period.
In the final frame, Husso made a few key saves early to keep it a 3-2 game. The teams traded chances until Grand Rapids' Evgeny Svechnikov, rushing up the wing, slipped the puck past Husso on the near side with 4:09 to play. Looking for a pair of markers to tie the game, the Wolves pulled Husso in the last minute of the third but did not convert for the 4-2 final score.
The Wolves return to Allstate Arena on Wednesday to face the Milwaukee Admirals in the first of 12 Amtrak Rivalry games this season.
For a complete Wolves 2016-17 schedule, game broadcast or ticket information, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
American Hockey League Stories from October 15, 2016
- Rampage Drop Season Opener to Admirals 2-1 - San Antonio Rampage
- Four-Goal Second Period Pushes Crunch Past Amerks, 4-1 - Syracuse Crunch
- Wolves Fall in Home Opener - Chicago Wolves
- Manitoba Moose Recap: Manitoba 2 at Iowa 3 SO - Manitoba Moose
- Iowa Beats Manitoba 3-2 in a Shootout - Iowa Wild
- Phantoms Open 2016-17 Season with 4-2 Triumph at PPL Center - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- TEXAS STARS MEDIA RELEASE - Lagace Stops 43 Shots in Sta - Texas Stars
- Bailey, Perron Shine in Binghamton Senators' 3-0 Shutout Over - Binghamton Senators
- WOLF PACK GAME RECAP - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 6, Hartford - Hartford Wolf Pack
- GAME RECAP: Checkers Suffer Second Loss in Texas - Charlotte Checkers
- Gibson Shines in Opening Night Victory - Bridgeport Islanders
- RECAP: Penguins Impress in Season Opener with 6-2 Win - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- IceHogs Drop Second Straight against Monsters - Rockford IceHogs
- Providence Falls to Bridgeport on the Road, 2-1 - Providence Bruins
- Devils Start Undefeated for First Time in Franchise History - Albany Devils
- MONSTERS GAME SUMMARY: Monsters Complete Opening Weekend Sweep - Cleveland Monsters
- ICECAPS RECAP | IceCaps Downed by Devils 5-2 - St. John's IceCaps
- Amerks Sign Justin Vaive to Professional Tryout - Rochester Americans
- Four Power-Play Goals Doom Comets - Utica Comets
- Ontario Reign Launch Reign Radio 24/7 on TuneIn - Ontario Reign
- Reign Open 2016-17 Season Tonight vs. San Diego - Ontario Reign
- Ontario Reign Game Preview: Reign Open 2016-17 Season Tonight - Ontario Reign
- Sabres Recall Baptiste - Rochester Americans
- Gulls Race Past Roadrunners with 5-3 Win - San Diego Gulls
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
