2018-19 Chicago Wolves Game Notes GRAND RAPIDS AT CHICAGO JANUARY 16, 2019 7 p.m. AHLTV THE RACE FOR FIRST PLACE 2018-19 What’s on the line tonight? Oh, no big deal...the winner merely takes control of first place in the Cen- TALE OF THE TAPE tral Division -- perhaps the tightest race in professional hockey. REGULAR-SEASON SERIES 3-1-0-0 Grand Rapids | 1-2-1-0 Chicago The Central Division’s top five teams are separated by just four points with Grand Rapids and Iowa (which is idle tonight) tied for first with 49 points. The Wolves are just one point behind heading into tonight’s matchup while Texas (47 points) and Milwaukee (45 points) are just a successful week away from the top. But, wait, it gets crazier. Texas ranks fourth in points, but the Stars are first in points percentage (.635) because they’ve played two fewer games than the Wolves and three fewer than the Griffins 21-12-3-4 22-13-3-1 and the Wild. And then there’s the San Antonio Rampage, who’ve won 11 consecutive home games and officially shaken off their early-season struggles. They sit at 43 points. LEADING SCORERS IN SERIES GRAND RAPIDS CHICAGO GOALS ON GOALS ON GOALS Skater G A Pts Skater G A Pts The Chicago Wolves exploded for eight goals in two games last weekend against the Tucson Road- Elson 4 2 6 Macek 4 0 4 runners, reclaiming the league lead in scoring with 141 goals this season. After a bit of a scoring lull, Puempel 4 0 4 Pirri 3 1 4 Camper 0 4 4 Carr 0 4 4 the Wolves seem to be back on pace as they’ve outscored their opponents by 26 goals (141-115). That Terry 2 1 3 Bischoff 1 2 3 differential ranks first in the Central Division, second in the Western Conference and fourth in the American Hockey League. SERIES GAME-BY-GAME Chicago’s four goals in the first period on Friday tied the most Rocky Thompson’s squad has put up Date Location Result SF-SA PP PK in one period this season, which the Wolves also did in the second period en route to a 7-2 win at Oct. 13 Allstate Arena W, 5-1 24-33 1-4 5-6 Rockford on Nov. 23. The Wolves enjoyed three four-goal periods last season. The last time Chicago Oct. 20 Van Andel Arena L, 3-5 28-32 0-6 3-4 posted five goals in a period occurred on Dec. 22, 2016, in the third period vs. the Milwaukee Admirals. Nov. 24 Allstate Arena OTL, 3-4 30-31 0-3 4-4 Nov. 28 Van Andel Arena L, 2-5 35-32 0-2 2-2 Jan. 16 Allstate Arena 7 p.m. WHO’S SCORING THESE GOALS? Feb. 10 Van Andel Arena 3 p.m. Veteran forward Daniel Carr has been leading the Wolves offense in Brandon Pirri’s absence, but after a four-point weekend in Tucson he took over the lead in the AHL as well. Carr’s 45 points, off 19 goals and 26 assists, are three greater than the next-highest active player, Syracuse’s Carter Verhae- THROWING IT BACK TO 2009 ghe. Carr excels on the power play as he’s tied for second in the league with nine power-play goals Ten years ago today, head coach Don Granato’s -- and he’s good at even strength as his +23 plus/minus rating leads all AHL players. Wolves hit the road and earned a 3-2 victory at Rockford. Jeff Hamilton notched the game-win- Forward Brooks Macek also got back on the scoresheet in the desert, tallying a goal and three as- ning goal and two assists while Robert Gherson sists. Macek averages a point per game for Chicago and has recorded multiple points on 13 occasions outdueled Antti Niemi -- who was just one season away from capturing a Stanley Cup. What else was this year. Not to be left out, forward Tomas Hyka returned to the lineup and notched four goals for happening in the world about that time? the Wolves, including a hat trick in Friday’s win. The Wolves were 1-3-0-0 in the four games Hyka • LeBron James became the youngest player in NBA missed from Dec. 31 to Jan. 5 and scored just five goals in that span. history to score 20,000 points -- but not all in one game because that would be a record. TWO IN THE DESERT • The winning Powerball numbers were 9, 21, 28, 32, 51 SATURDAY, JAN. 12 (at) TUCSON 3, CHICAGO 2 and the Powerball was Oscar Dansk (35). The odds of winning were 1 in 175 million, meaning it’s more likely • The Wolves led heading into the final period, but fell after a furious third-period rally at Tucson for someone to become president of the United Convention Center Arena. State than winning the pot. If you have this ticket • Forwards Tomas Hyka and Brooks Macek each scored for Chicago, but Adam Helewka’s two and have yet to claim your $90 million, it’s probably goals in the final five minutes sealed the win for Tucson. too late now. • Goaltender Zach Fucale saved 27 shots in his first start with the Wolves. • Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out of Heaven” controlled the FRIDAY, JAN. 11 CHICAGO 6, (at) TUCSON 3 top spot on the Billboard Top 100, but “Gangham Style” by PSY sat at No. 6 with eyes on No. 1. • The Wolves produced a season-high four goals in the opening period, including a pair eight seconds apart, to set the tone for the victory at Tucson Convention Center. ALL-TIME RECORD BREAKDOWN • Forward posted his first hat trick as a pro in North America while forwards Tomas Hyka Daniel Seasons Home Road Overall Carr and T.J. Tynan and defenseman Griffin Reinhart also scored. 1996-2018 35-34-0-6-2 31-31-2-9-2 66-65-2-15-4 • Goaltender Oscar Dansk posted 18 saves for the win. 2018-19 Chicago Wolves Game Notes 2018-19 HOME-ROAD CONTRASTS BY THE NUMBERS Regular Season Home Away Difference Goals For 3.45 3.79 0.34 The Wolves had three representatives -- forwards Brandon Pirri and Daniel Carr and de- Goals Against 3.25 2.63 0.62 fenseman Erik Brännström -- selected to participate in the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic, join- 3 ing the San Jose Barracuda as the only other team to have three players selected. It marks Pirri’s fourth selection for the AHL All-Star Classic while Carr and Brännström are first-time picks. RECORD BY DIVISION Record Win % With his hat trick on Friday, right wing Tomas Hyka became the fifth Wolves player to score Central 16-12-3-1 .562 at least three goals in one game this season -- joining Brooks Macek, Gage Quinney, North 1-0-0-0 1.000 5 Daniel Carr (4 goals) and Brandon Pirri. The AHL’s other 30 teams have combined for 27 Pacific 5-1-0-0 .833 hat tricks this season. The last Wolves team to have at least five players rack up a hat trick in the same season was the 2008 Calder Cup champs -- when Jesse Schultz, Brett Sterling, Kevin Doell, Joel RECORD BY MONTH Kwiatkowski, Darren Haydar and Jason Krog (two hat tricks in the playoffs) made it happen. Record Win % October 6-2-0-1 .722 In Friday’s 6-3 win in Tucson, Wolves forwards Daniel Carr and Tomas Hyka scored goals November 4-5-2-0 .455 just eight seconds apart in the first period, the fastest two goals by the Wolves this season. December 10-3-1-0 .750 As quick as that may seem, it is two seconds from the fastest two goals in Wolves history, January 2-3-0-0 .400 8 February 0-0-0-0 .000 set on Dec. 6, 2008 when Joe Motzko and Colin Stuart scored goals six seconds apart against Rock- March 0-0-0-0 .000 ford. April 0-0-0-0 .000 The Wolves average 29.13 shots per game, ranking 19th among the 31 AHL teams. Grand Rapids, on the other hand, averages 30.65 shots and ranks 13th. This shouldn’t be an IN OVERTIME (4-3) issue, seeing as how the Wolves have a 10-3-1-1 record when being outshot by their op- 19 Goaltender Saves-Shots SV% ponents. Oscar Dansk (2-1) 7-8 .875 Max Lagace (2-2) 4-6 .667 Forward T.J. Tynan’s 29 assists are tied with Toronto’s Jeremy Bracco for the most helpers among AHL players. In two seasons with the Wolves, Tynan has racked up 23 29 goals and 74 assists in 109 games, putting him just three away from 100 points in a IN THE SHOOTOUT (0-1) Wolves sweater. Shooter Goals-Chances SH% Thanks to eight goals against the Roadrunners, the Wolves have regained sole T.J. Tynan 1-1 1.000 possession of first place in AHL scoring with 141 goals -- two ahead of the Charlotte Erik Brännström 0-1 .000 Daniel Carr 0-1 .000 141 Checkers and Springfield Thunderbirds. The Wolves also continue to boast three of Reid Duke 0-1 .000 the league’s top 10 scorers: League leader Daniel Carr (19G, 26A), No. 2 Brandon Pirri (18G, 24A) and Brooks Macek 0-1 .000 No. 6 Brooks Macek (18G, 21A).