AHL Chicago Wolves

Wolves Weekly Notes

Published on November 10, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release


VIEW FROM THE TOP

Chicago ranks first in the West Division and second overall in the AHL with 20 points; the squad's .769 winning percentage (9-2-1-1) ranks second in the circuit. The team's 20 points through 13 outings is tied for the second-best start to a season in franchise history, trailing only the 2008 Calder Cup Champion squad (12-0-1-0).

WOLVES HEADLINES

--- JOE MOTZKO: Ranks first on the team with six goals and 10 points in 13 games this season ... Tied for third on the team with a +8 plus/minus rating ... Tallied an assist on Sunday after being held scoreless the previous two contests ... Tallied at least one point in 23 of his 37 career regular-season appearances with the Wolves

--- MATT ANDERSON: Paces the Wolves with seven assists and ranks second with nine points in 10 outings this year ... Shares the team lead and ranks fourth in the AHL with a +11 plus/minus rating ... Tallied two points (G, A) in 14 games with the Wolves last year and 14 goals, 15 assists and 29 points in 37 matchups with Gwinnett (ECHL)

--- BRETT STERLING: Potted the game-tying marker with 32 seconds remaining in Sunday's victory, his second game after being assigned by Atlanta on Nov. 7 ... Recorded a goal in three NHL games with the Thrashers this season ... Ranked second on the Wolves with 38 goals and 71 points in 70 contests last year ... Shared second in the AHL with 38 markers in 2007-08 after leading the league with 55 as a rookie

--- DAN TURPLE: Stopped a season-high 35 shots in picking up his second straight win at Providence on Nov. 7 ... Posted a 2-0-0 record, an 1.00 goals-against average and .965 save percentage in two starts this year ... 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 30 of 32 shots in regulation and overtime plus all four attempts in the shootout at Manchester on Nov. 9 ... Accrued a 2-0-0 record, 1.45 goals-against average and .942 save percentage in two appearances this season ... 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 20 goals through the first 13 outings this season (1.54 per game), which leads the American Hockey League and includes allowing two or fewer goals in 11 of those contests.

--- With Sunday's 3-2 shootout victory, the Wolves matched a season-high four- game winning streak. The club also won four straight outings from Oct. 17 to Oct. 25.

--- Chicago has outgunned its foes eight times this season, which includes outshooting Manchester, 35-32, on Sunday. The Wolves have earned a point in every game in which they have outshot opponents this year (6-0-1-1).

--- The Wolves have allowed a power-play goal in three straight games after giving up only one man-advantage strike in the previous four contests; Chicago ranks seventh in the league with an 87.7 percent efficiency rating (64 of 73).

--- The Wolves four goals on Friday marked the third highest offensive output for the club this season; Chicago ranks 21st in the AHL with an average of 2.69 goals per game.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

--- The Wolves will host their third annual Future Journalists Media Day on Wed., Nov. 12, at the Hoffman Estates Community Center and Ice Arena at 9 a.m. Guest speakers include ABC 7's MARK GIANGRECO, ESPN 1000's HARRY TEINOWITZ and NBC 5's PAULA FARIS.

WOLVES REWIND (2-0-0-0)

Sun., Nov. 9
Chicago 3, (at) Manchester 2 (SO)
--- The Wolves tied the game with 32 seconds left in regulation and went on to earn their fourth straight win with a 3-2 shootout victory over the Manchester Monarchs at the Verizon Wireless Arena Sunday night.
--- Forwards BRETT STERLING and JUNIOR LESSARD potted goals in regulation and LESSARD and RILEY HOLZAPFEL dented the net in the shootout.
--- Goaltender ROBERT GHERSON turned away 30 of 32 shots in regulation and overtime and all four attempts in the shootout.

Fri., Nov. 7
Chicago 4, (at) Providence 1
--- The Wolves opened scoring 3:02 into the game and never looked back, dropping the Providence Bruins, 4-1, at Dunkin Donuts Center Friday night.
--- Forwards MIKE HOFFMAN and GRANT STEVENSON and defensemen JAMIE RIVERS and SCOTT LEHMAN all tickled the twine.
--- Goaltender DAN TURPLE thwarted a season-high 35 shots in the win.

THIS WEEK:

Fri., Nov. 14
at Rochester Americans (2-10-0-0)
Blue Cross Arena
6:30 p.m.

Sat., Nov. 15
at Syracuse Crunch (9-3-0-0)
Onondaga County War Memorial at OnCenter
6:30 p.m.

Check out the Chicago Wolves Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from November 10, 2008


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.

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