AHL Chicago Wolves

Wolves Weekly Notes

Published on December 22, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release


CLOSING THE CAGE DOOR

The Wolves have allowed one goal in three of their last four contests after giving up a season-high seven tallies on Dec. 13; Chicago has held its opponents to 77 goals through 31 outings this season (2.48 per game), which ranks second in the American Hockey League and includes allowing two or fewer goals in 19 matchups (14-4-1-0).

WOLVES HEADLINES

-- JOE MOTZKO: Ranks first on the team and shares second in the AHL with 18 goals in 31 games this season ... Paces the club and ranks second in the AHL with nine power-play markers ... Leads the team with 30 points and ranks third with 12 assists ... Posted 11 points (6G, 5A) during a season-high six-game point streak from Dec. 3 to Dec. 14, including potting a goal in five straight games from Dec. 5 to Dec 14 ... Ranked third on the Wolves and 14th in the AHL with a career-high 70 points in 72 games last season

--- ONDREJ PAVELEC: Turned aside 23 of 24 shots to pick up the win on Sunday - his first start since being reassigned by the Atlanta Thrashers on Dec. 19 ... Appeared in 11 NHL outings with Atlanta this season, registering a 3-6-0 record with a 3.55 goals-against average and .884 save percentage ... Leads the AHL with a 1.49 goals-against average and .948 save percentage ... Recorded a 33-16-3 record in 52 outings with the Wolves last season ... Led rookie goaltenders and ranked second in the league with 33 wins, the second most in franchise history

--- JEFF HAMILTON: Leads the team with 16 assists and ranks second with 21 points and five power-play goals despite appearing in just 19 games this season ... Tallied at least one point in 13 of his 19 outings with the Wolves, which includes four multiple-point outings - three of which were three or more; his average of 1.11 points per game ranks first on the team ... Posted nine goals, 15 assists and 24 points in 58 games with the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes and nine points (3G, 6A) in nine AHL matchups with the Albany River Rats last year

--- BRETT STERLING: Shares second on the team with eight goals and ranks third with 19 points in 19 games ... Shares fourth with 11 assists and is tied for the team lead with two game-winning goals ... Posted multiple points in two straight outings and has netted five points (G, 4A) in his last five games ... Recorded a goals in three NHL games with Atlanta this season ... Ranked second on the Wolves with 38 goals and 71 points in 70 contests last year

WOLF TRACKS

--- The Wolves rank first in the West Division with 38 points (18-11-1-1) through 31 outings this season; the West Division is currently the most tightly contested division in the AHL, with first and sixth place separated by a five-point margin.

--- Chicago has posted a .938 winning percentage when leading after two periods this season (15-1-0-0), which includes holding a 3-1 margin after 40 minutes on the way to their 4-1 win Sunday.

--- The Wolves tallied first on Sunday, marking the 16th time they have opened scoring this season; Chicago has accrued a .719 winning percentage when striking first this year (11-4-0-1).

--- Chicago has allowed a power-play goal in three straight games after thwarting all four San Antonio chances on Dec. 14; the Wolves rank 19th in the league with an 82.4 percent efficiency rating on the penalty kill (140 of 170).

--- The Wolves failed to net a power-play marker on Sunday, snapping a streak which saw them bag a man-advantage marker in a season-high seven straight games; Chicago ranks 28th in the league with a 12.0 percent efficiency rating on the power play (20 of 166).

IN GOOD HANDS AT ALLSTATE

--- The Wolves have potted 20 goals in their last four home games after being handed their first shutout of the season on Nov. 30; Chicago has posted an 9-3-0-1 record on home ice this season, outscoring opponents, 48-31, in the process - an average of 1.25 more goals per outing than the team is netting on the road.

WOLVES REWIND (2-1-0-0)

Sun., Dec. 21
(at) Chicago 4, Rockford 1
--- The Wolves lit the lamp just 20 seconds after power was restored in the Allstate Arena following a short blackout, and the offense never dimmed again on the way to a 4-1 win over the Rockford IceHogs Sunday night.
--- Forwards SPENCER MACHACEK, JOE MOTZKO and COLIN STUART and defenseman TYSON MARSH all netted goals for Chicago.
--- Goaltender ONDREJ PAVELEC stopped 23 of 24 shots in the win.

Fri., Dec. 19
(at) San Antonio 5, Chicago 3
--- The Wolves drew within one with 32 seconds remaining in the game, but an empty net tally sealed the deal for the San Antonio Rampage, who skated away with a 5-3 win at the AT&T Center on Friday.
--- Forwards JEFF HAMILTON, JOE MOTZKO and BRETT STERLING potted goals for Chicago.
--- Goaltender BRENT KRAHN made 19 saves in the loss.

Thu., Dec. 18
Chicago 2, (at) San Antonio 1
--- Chicago rallied from a 1-0 deficit to take an eventual 2-1 victory over the San Antonio Rampage at the AT&T Center Thursday night.
--- Center STEVE MARTINS and defenseman JAMIE RIVERS tickled the twine for the Wolves.
--- Goaltender BRENT KRAHN made 35 saves in his second straight win.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 22, 2008


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