Wolves Weekly Notes
January 12, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release
MIXING IT UP IN THE MIDWEST
The Chicago Wolves dropped their lone game last week as they were topped 5-1 by Grand Rapids on Saturday. The team is just past the midway point of their Midwest Division slate this season and are 9-9-3-0 (.500), with 19 of their final 40 games coming against intra-division rivals. Two of those tilts will come this week as they host Lake Erie and Rockford following a quick trip to Iowa tomorrow to face the Wild. The Wolves will need to pick up some points against the ultra-competitive Midwest if they hope to maintain their playoff positioning, no small task as four of the five teams in the division are currently in the top eight in the Western Conference (Rockford 3rd, Milwaukee 6th, Grand Rapids 7th, Chicago 8th).
WOLVES HEADLINERS
--- TY RATTIE: Scored the Wolves' lone goal in Grand Rapids, his 16th of the season, to remain tied for fourth in the league for goals ... Snapped a season-high-tying four-game goalless streak ... Has three goals in last 14 games (after 13 in his first 22 tilts of the season), but has kept his points-per-game pace steady by adding six assists in that span ... Leads the Wolves with 16 goals, 24 points, and a 0.67 points-per-game pace ... Leads team forwards and is tied for third overall with a +5 plus/minus rating ... Was selected last week to represent the Wolves at the 2015 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Turning Stone Resort Casino, which will take place Jan. 25-26 in Utica, N.Y.
--- MAGNUS PAAJARVI: Registered his first point with the Wolves with an assist on TY RATTIE's goal on Saturday ... It was his first AHL point since Jan. 4, 2013, also an assist at Grand Rapids ... Since joining the team, has been on the ice for four of five goals scored and not on the ice for all 12 allowed ... Has collected one assist, nine shots, and a +2 plus/minus rating in his four appearances for the team since being loaned by St. Louis (NHL) on Dec. 30 ... Has accrued 46 points (11G, 35A) in 76 career AHL games with Oklahoma City (2011-13) and Chicago (2014-present)
--- MATT CLIMIE: Stopped nine of 10 shots he faced after replacing JORDAN BINNINGTON 34:38 into Saturday's contest ... Has appeared in the team's last five games after backing up six of the previous eight ... Has posted a 1-1-1 record, 1.69 goals-against average, and a .947 save percentage in those five contests ... Has garnered an 8-8-3 record, 2.41 goals-against average, and .910 save percentage in 21 games this season ... Ranks second all-time on the Wolves in games played (129), wins (63), minutes (7,541), saves (3,427), shutouts (8), and assists (5)
--- PAT CANNONE: Collected an assist on TY RATTIE's goal, keeping him one point behind the top spot on the Wolves leaderboard ... Has dished out three assists in three games this month ... Has collected 23 points (6G, 17A) in 36 games for the Wolves, leading the team in helpers (four ahead of second-place JAKE CHELIOS) and second in points ... Holds the second-highest points-per-game pace (0.64) among active players on the team, which will allow him to set a career high if maintained ... Serves as an alternate captain for the team
WOLF TRACKS
--- The Wolves have claimed just one of a possible eight points in their last four tilts against Midwest Division competition and are 2-5-1 against them since the start of December. Last season, when Chicago claimed the division title, it was 26-11-2-5.
--- The 5-1 loss on Saturday tied the team's season high for both goals allowed and largest margin of defeat.
--- The -14 shot differential in Grand Rapids last week was the highest of the season for the Wolves and largest deficit since April 16, 2014. It was the fourth time in 2014-15 the team has been outshot by more than 10, but it had claimed five of a possible six points in the first three instances.
--- Despite allowing 30-plus shots in their last five contests, the Wolves remain to be one of the stingiest teams in the league. Chicago ranks third with an average of 27.06 shots allowed per game.
--- The Wolves have killed off 34 of their last 35 penalties on the road, a success rate of 97.1 percent, to continue a stellar season in that department. The team's road PK rates third in the league at 89.3 percent (67-75) despite sitting 27th at home (78.4 percent, 40-for-51) and 11th overall (84.9 percent, 107-for-126).
--- With only seven games going to overtime this season, the Wolves are tied for the sixth-fewest extra-session outings in 2014-15. They are 3-4 in overtime and are one of four teams (Hamilton, Texas, and Utica) to have not proceeded to the shootout.
--- Chicago and Utica remain as the only two teams not to have dropped a contest when leading after either of the first two periods. Chicago is 9-0-0-0 when leading after one and 16-0-0-0 when leading after two.
FIGHT AGAINST CANCER
The Wolves will don special jerseys on Jan. 16, 17, and 31 as they support the fight against cancer. The commemorative sweaters will then be available via auctions and raffles with proceeds benefiting various cancer-related charities and Chicago Wolves Charities. Call 1-800-THE-WOLVES or visit ChicagoWolves.com for more information or to find out how to get one of these limited-edition jerseys.
WOLVES REWIND (0-1-0-0)
Saturday, Jan. 10
(at) Grand Rapids 5, Chicago 1
--- The Wolves mustered just one goal and were outshot by 14 at Van Andel Arena as they dropped their second consecutive game, both against Midwest Division opponents
--- Right wing TY RATTIE scored his 16th goal of the season while left wing MAGNUS PAAJARVI recorded his first point with the Wolves with an assist on the tally
--- Goaltender JORDAN BINNINGTON stopped 20 of 24 shots in 34:38 of action before being relieved by MATT CLIMIE, who stopped nine of 10 in 25:22
THIS WEEK:
Tue., Jan. 13* at Iowa Wild Wells Fargo Arena 7 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 16* vs. Lake Erie Monsters Allstate Arena 7 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 17* vs. Rockford IceHogs$ Allstate Arena 7 p.m.
$Illinois Lottery Cup
*U-Too
GAMES WILL BE TELECAST LIVE ON THE U-TOO OR WCIU
Log on to chicagowolves.com for broadcast schedule, or to watch or listen to the action live online
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