AHL Chicago Wolves

Wolves Weekly Notes

Published on November 3, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release


FRIENDLY CONFINES

The Wolves have notched a .900 winning percentage at the Allstate Arena this season (4-0-0-1), which includes collecting a point in each of the first five games. Last year, Chicago led the AHL with 29 wins and a .750 winning percentage on home ice (29-9-1-1).

WOLVES HEADLINES

--- JOE MOTZKO: Ranks first on the team with six goals and nine points in 11 games this season ... Shares 11th in the AHL with six goals ... Tied for second on the team with a +8 plus/minus rating ... Accrued seven points (5G, 2A) in a five-game point streak from Oct. 18 to Oct. 29 ... Tallied at least one point in 22 of his 35 career regular-season appearances with the Wolves

--- MATT ANDERSON: Paces the Wolves with five assists and ranks second with seven points in eight outings this year ... Leads the team and ranks sixth in the AHL with a +9 plus/minus rating ... Tallied two points (G, A) in 14 games with the Wolves last year and 14 goals, 15 assists and 39 points in 37 matchups with Gwinnett (ECHL)

--- DAN TURPLE: Stopped 20 of 21 shots to earn the win in his first AHL start at Iowa on Saturday ... Accrued a 33-25-5 record with a 3.49 goals-against average and .891 save percentage over the last two seasons with the ECHL's Gwinnett Gladiators, which includes a pro career-best 18 wins in a career-most 37 games as a rookie in 2006-07

--- ROBERT GHERSON: Turned away 19 of 20 shots to pick up the win in his season debut on Sunday ... Posted an 8-6-0 record with a 2.61 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in 19 matchups with the Wolves last season ... Shared the team lead with two shutouts ... Registered a 3.61 goals-against average and .750 save percentage in 16:37 of postseason action over two games during Chicago's championship run

WOLF TRACKS

--- The Wolves have held their opponents to just 17 goals through the first 11 outings this season (1.55 per game), which leads the American Hockey League.

--- Chicago has allowed more than one power-play goal in a game just once in its first 11 outings this season, which includes being perfect on the penalty kill five times; Chicago ranks eighth in the league with an 87.9 percent efficiency rating (51 of 58).

--- The Wolves outshot Syracuse, 22-20, on Sunday, marking the sixth time in the last seven outings Chicago has outgunned its foes.

--- Chicago erupted for a season-high six markers vs. Providence on Oct. 29. The Wolves share 22nd in the AHL with an average of 2.55 goals per game.

--- The Wolves have been held without a power-play tally in five straight contests (0 for 17). Overall, Chicago has converted just three times in 56 chances on the power-play this year (5.1 percent). Last year, the Wolves potted a league-high 107 power-play markers and shared third in the AHL on the man-advantage at 20.8 percent (107 of 514).

DON'T FORGET TO WRITE

--- Starting Friday, the Wolves embark on a season-high six-game road trip. The team won't return to the Allstate Arena until Nov. 22, when they host the Grand Rapids Griffins. Chicago has posted a 3-2-1-0 record in six road contests this season after ranking fourth in the AHL with 24 wins and a .637 winning percentage on the road last season (24-13-1-2).

WOLVES REWIND (3-1-0-0)

Sun., Nov. 2
(at) Chicago 2, Syracuse 1
--- The Wolves rallied back from a 1-0 deficit then clung to a 2-1 lead for 29:28 behind a 19-save performance from goaltender Robert Gherson, on the way to dropping the Syracuse Crunch, 2-1, at the Allstate Arena Sunday night.
--- Center Steve Martins and right wing Joey Crabb tallied goals for Chicago

Sat., Nov. 1
Chicago 3, (at) Iowa 1
--- Chicago cracked a 1-1 second period tie and held on to skate away with a 3-1 win over the Iowa Chops at the Wells Fargo Arena Saturday night
--- Forwards GRANT STEVENSON (GWG, A), RILEY HOLZAPFEL (G, A) and SPENCER MACHACEK (2A) each tallied multiple points, while JOE MOTZKO added an empty net marker
--- Goaltender DAN TURPLE stopped 20 of 21 shots to earn the win in his first American Hockey League start

Fri., Oct. 31
(at) Iowa 2, Chicago 1
--- The Wolves allowed a power-play goal late in the third period and never recovered, suffering an eventual 2-1 loss to the Iowa Chops at Wells Fargo Arena Friday night
--- Left wing COLIN STUART potted Chicago's only goal
--- Goaltender ONDREJ PAVELEC notched 26 saves on 28 shots

Wed., Oct. 29
(at) Chicago 6, Providence 0
---Right Wing JOE MOTZKO tallied twice for the second straight game and goaltender ONDREJ PAVELEC stopped all 35 shots as the Wolves downed the Providence Bruins, 6-0, at the Allstate Arena Wednesday night.
--- Defenseman BORIS VALABIK led the team with three points (G, 2A), while forwards MATT ANDERSON (G, A) and JUNIOR LESSARD (G, A) also posted multiple points.
--- Left wing COLIN STUART's shorthanded tally 69 seconds into the first period held up to be the game-winner

THIS WEEK:

Fri., Nov. 7
at Providence Bruins (6-2-1-0)
Dunkin' Donuts Center
6 p.m.

Sun., Nov. 9
at Manchester Monarchs (2-5-0-1)
Verizon Wireless Arena
3 p.m.

Check out the Chicago Wolves Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from November 3, 2008


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