Wolves Roundup
February 26, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release
DON'T TREAD ON ME
The Chicago Wolves' next four games will feature Texas-based opponents and the Wolves will travel to the Lone Star State for three of those four. The task will prove tall as the Wolves are still searching for their first win of the season against both of this week's opponents: the San Antonio Rampage (0-2-0-0) and Texas Stars (0-1-2-0).
On Tuesday, the Wolves host the Stars in Chicago's final School-Day Game of the season. The contest is also Texas' second of three visits to Allstate Arena this year. While the Wolves own a stellar 18-7-1-0 record on home ice, the Stars took their first game this season at Allstate on Nov. 21 in overtime when Jason Dickinson scored 21 seconds into the 3-on-3 extra frame.
Prior to that Nov. 21 contest, Chicago and Texas faced off on Oct. 6-7 at H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, Texas, in the Wolves' first two games of the season. The Stars stole both contests by a score of 6-5 - once in regulation and once in overtime. The Chicago netminder of record in the Oct. 7 OT loss was Oscar Dansk. He made 30 saves in his Wolves debut and it was his only contest before being recalled by the Vegas Golden Knights and suffering an injury that sidelined him from Oct. 30 to Feb. 15. Since his return to health and the Wolves, Dansk is 3-0-0 with a .918 save percentage and 2.67 goals-against average. Chicago returns to Cedar Park on March 3.
The Wolves and Rampage battled less than two weeks ago at Allstate Arena. The Feb. 17 game marked San Antonio's second and final this season at the venue. Just as they did in their previous game on Nov. 11, the Rampage won the game with a 2-1 score. With only two games left in the four-game season series, the Wolves need to take both contests at AT&T Center in order to tie the series. If they do, it'll be the fourth season series tie between the clubs in the last five campaigns. If not, it will mark the first time the Wolves have lost a season series to San Antonio since 2011-12.
REWIND
(2-1-0-0) Sunday, Feb. 25 (at) Chicago 5, Cleveland 2
- The Wolves upended the Moose for the second time this season and the first at Bell MTS Place.
- Forwards Beau Bennett (G, 2A) and Teemu Pulkkinen (2G, A) each recorded three-point efforts while T.J. Tynan netted his league-leading fourth short-handed goal.
- Defenseman Zac Leslie accounted for the fifth goal, his second since being acquired by the Wolves.
- Goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo made 36 saves for the win.
Saturday, Feb. 24 (at) Manitoba 2, Chicago 0
- Chicago suffered its first shutout setback against Manitoba in nine years.
- Wolves goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo stopped 37 shots, including 19 of 21 in the second period.
- Moose netminder Eric Comrie made 33 saves in the shutout win.
- Forwards Francis Beauvillier and Cam Maclise scored for Manitoba.
Wednesday, Feb. 21 Chicago 5, (at) Grand Rapids 2
- The Wolves won their fourth consecutive game over the Griffins to take the season series for the first time since 2011-12.
- Rookie Keegan Kolesar netted his first two AHL goals while Chicago's leading scorer, veteran Brandon Pirri, also collected a pair of goals for 20 on the season.
- Forward Beau Bennett scored the Wolves' fifth goal as they converted three of four power plays.
- Goaltender Oscar Dansk made 39 saves to set a new season-high for team netminders and earn his third victory in as many starts.
BEAU BENNETT
The 26-year-old racked up six points through three games last week. Bennett recorded two three-point performances - Wednesday against Grand Rapids and Sunday versus Manitoba -- in Wolves wins. His two goals and four assists give him 33 points (8G, 25A) on the season to put the California native in the No. 5 spot in team scoring. Additionally, he logged a +2 plus/minus rating and nine shots on goal.
KEEGAN KOLESAR
On Wednesday, the Winnipeg native returned to the Chicago Wolves lineup for the first time since Jan. 17 when he was reassigned to Quad City (ECHL) by Vegas (NHL). In his first game back, the 20-year-old Kolesar collected his first two AHL goals en route to a 5-2 victory for the Chicago Wolves. In that same game, Kolesar also led the team with eight shots on goal and logged a fighting major.
ZAC LESLIE
Acquired by Vegas (NHL) earlier this month via trade with Los Angeles, Leslie was the Chicago Wolves' most productive player on the blue line last week. He averaged a point per game with one goal and two assists.
In Sunday's win over the Central Division-leading Moose, Leslie collected an insurance goal and an assist on the Beau Bennett goal that would stand as the game-winner.
TEEMU PULKKINEN
Last week was one of Pulkkinen's most productive weeks of the season. The 26-year-old registered four points, which included two goals and one assist in Sunday's 5-2 victory against Manitoba. In all, he totaled four points (2G, 2A) through three games and logged 10 shots on goal.
On Wednesday, the Finn appeared in his 300th pro game against Grand Rapids, his first AHL team.
ON DECK
Tuesday, Feb. 27 vs. Texas^ Allstate Arena 11 a.m.
Friday, March 2 at San Antonio* AT&T Center 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 3 at Texas# H-E-B Center 7 p.m.
Tuesday, March 6 at San Antonio^ AT&T Center 7 p.m.
Friday, March 9 at Milwaukee* UWM Panther Arena 7 p.m.
All times Central
^AHL Live only
# CW50
*The U Too
Visit ChicagoWolves.com for a complete broadcast schedule; all games stream on AHLLive.com
American Hockey League Stories from February 26, 2018
- Ottawa Recalls Burgdoerfer and O'Brien - Belleville Senators
- Dallas Recalls Dickinson, Texas Adds French & McParland - Texas Stars
- Brian Campbell Night, Soup Drive for Soupy Highlight Wednesday Slate - Rockford IceHogs
- Week 21 Report: Highmore Sets Rookie Scoring Record - Rockford IceHogs
- Manitoba Moose Weekly - Manitoba Moose
- San Antonio Rampage Weekly Update - San Antonio Rampage
- Coyotes Assign Dauphin to Tucson - Tucson Roadrunners
- Blue Jackets Assign Forward Nathan Gerbe to Monsters - Cleveland Monsters
- Comets Release Justin Taylor from PTO - Utica Comets
- Rangers Assign Vinni Lettieri to Hartford - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Predators Acquire Ramage, Gaudet from Arizona - Milwaukee Admirals
- Rangers Acquire Defenseman Chris Bigras for Ryan Graves - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Avalanche Acquires Defenseman Ryan Graves from New York Rangers - San Antonio Rampage
- Ottawa Reassigns Hogberg to Beast - Belleville Senators
- Coyotes Acquire Labrie, Murphy from Nashville; Roadrunners Acquire Army from Milwaukee - Tucson Roadrunners
- Blue Jackets Acquire Left Wing Thomas Vanek from Vancouver Canucks for Forwards Jussi Jokinen and Tyler Motte - Cleveland Monsters
- Wolves Roundup - Chicago Wolves
- Sabres Acquire O'Regan, Picks from Sharks - Rochester Americans
- Canucks Acquire Forwards Tyler Motte and Jussi Jokinen from Columbus for Forward Thomas Vanek - Utica Comets
- Hurricanes Acquire McKegg from Pittsburgh - Charlotte Checkers
- Coyotes Acquire Maletta from Columbus, Roadrunners Get Camper from Cleveland - Tucson Roadrunners
- Bouma Assigned to IceHogs - Rockford IceHogs
- Jets Acquire Joe Morrow from the Montreal Canadiens - Manitoba Moose
- Blue Jackets Acquire Ryan Kujawinski from Coyotes for Jordan Maletta, Monsters Trade Carter Camper to Tucson for Future Considerations - Cleveland Monsters
- Anaheim Ducks Acquire Jason Chimera from New York Islanders - San Diego Gulls
- Terry and Boucher Each Score a Pair in 5-2 Rocket Victory - Laval Rocket
- Golden Knights Send Holm to Wolves - Chicago Wolves
- Canucks Acquire Forward Brendan Leipsic from Vegas in Exchange for Defenseman Philip Holm - Utica Comets
- Sexton Named CCM/AHL Player of the Week - Belleville Senators
- Belleville's Ben Sexton Named CCM/AHL Player of the Week - AHL
- Senators to Host Women's Hockey Day - Belleville Senators
- Sens Acquire Moutrey from Columbus - Belleville Senators
- Wolf Pack Weekly - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Columbus Blue Jackets Acquire Defenseman Ian Cole from Ottawa Senators for Forward Nick Moutrey and 2020 Third Round Draft Pick - Cleveland Monsters
- Blue Jackets Recall Forwards Hannikainen, Milano - Cleveland Monsters
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.
