AHL & ECHL Affiliate Thread II - Running With the Wolves and Sailing with the Admirals

[tarheelhockey]

I like that this thread has escalating tensions from low-minor league rivalries from 25 years ago.

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Richmond Coliseum is where we go, baby!

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Chicago pushes their winning streak to 7 and at least a point in a game to 8. Chicago is 5 points up on 2nd place Manitoba. This game was up and down. Ben Bishop was in net for the Stars for a rehab stint.

6 goals scored in the 1st period, 3 by each. Wolves scored first, gave up a shorty 2 minutes later, then scored on the PP 18 seconds later, Texas tied it 31 seconds later, Drury scored 3 minutes later, and then actual 10 hockey minute break from scoring. Texas tied it on the PP late in the period. 4 goals in the first 3.5 minutes. Neither team came to play defense.

Wolves opened the 2nd period with a goal, 24 seconds in. The game trend did not continue as Texas didnt tie it until 11 minutes later. The Wolves took over from there and scored 3 in 6 minutes to end the period.

Stars pulled Bishop after goal 7 but their backup was pulled after 1:30 to end the 2nd. I assume he must have tweaked something and couldnt go back out there for the 3rd. Bishop went back in at the start of the 3rd.

Wolves were the only ones to score in the third, 3/4 of the way through to make it 8-4. I guess either team didnt get the memo there is supposed to be scoring in the first couple of minutes.

Lets hope that this game gets Keane going. He had a strong showing. 1 goal, 2 assists and was +3.
Drury had a goal and an assist and was +3
Rees and Bokk had assists. Bokk's point streak is 3 games and he has 5 assists in the last 7. First 7 games, 1 assist. Last 9 games, 1 goal and 5 assists.

The veterans continue to be the primary scorers. Leivo had 2 goals and 3 assists, Smith had a hat trick, and Poturalski had 1 goal and 3 assists.

Makiniemi stopped 19 of 23.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

So a weekend recap. I had put Saturday's recap in the game thread intially.

Wolves won their 8th straight against the Texas Stars with a 4-3 OT win.
Poturalski is just a machine right now. Scored his 11th goal and got his 19th, 20th, and 21st assists.
Keane had an assist and Sellgren had 2 assists. Lyon stopped 27 of 30. of Chicago.

Sunday was a blowout win for Chicago 7-2 to sweep the Texas Stars. Wolves have won 9 in a row and a point streak of 10. Chicago has firming grabbed third place in the league. Not sure anyone will catch Utica who has a point percentage of .900. Stockton is next at .825.

Drury had a big game with 2 goals and an assist. Smallman had a goal, good for him. Sellgren had an assist. Noesen, Poturalski, Smith and Leivo all put up multi point games as they usually do.

Makiniemi stopped 26 of 28. One goal against was in the first minute of the game and then another was a penalty shot in the 3rd. Keane got a misconduct-Unsportsmanlike 10-minute penalty after a hooking call. He also had the hook that caused the penalty shot.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Chicago is going to have a b2b2b again this week.

Thursday is 12 eastern/11 central. Play Central's number 2, Manitoba Moose.
Then a home and home with Milwaukee Friday and Saturday at 8 eastern / 7 central.

Milwaukee, while 6th in the division, is on a 4 game win streak and 6-4-0 in their last 10.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

2021-22 Team Autographed Burgundy Jersey Raffle – Chicago Wolves Store

for anyone interested. I got one so your chances of winning went from 1 in 50 to 1 in 49. I dont win raffles but a chance of getting a Makiniemi, Rees, Suzuki, etc signed jersey would be cool.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

BEST START IN FRANCHISE HISTORY

We get it. The Wolves have been on the road for the last two weeks, which makes it hard to stay focused on the hottest team in hockey. So here’s the chance to take two minutes and get caught up on all of the magnificent things the Chicago Wolves have accomplished in the first eight weeks of the American Hockey League season.
1) BEST START IN FRANCHISE HISTORY: Head coach Ryan Warsofsky’s Wolves own a 17-4-1-1 record. That .783 points percentage is the best in team history through 23 games, which is saying something because the Wolves have four league championships and three other trips to the finals to show for their first 27 seasons.
2) NINE-GAME WINNING STREAK: For the first time since 2005-06, the Wolves are riding a nine-game winning streak. The team’s longest streak, by the way, is 12 games set by the 1999-2000 team that won the Turner Cup.
3) PILING UP THE POINTS: Captain Andrew Poturalski has a head start on being the first AHL player in 24 years to win back-to-back scoring titles. He owns 34 points (12G, 22A) in 23 games. His linemates aren’t far behind as C.J. Smith ranks second with 27 points (10G, 17A) and Stefan Noesen (10G, 14A) shares fourth.
4) STOPPING EVERYTHING: Veteran goaltender Alex Lyon ranks second with his 1.63 goals-against average. Rookie Eetu Makiniemi, who rotates games with Lyon, ranks second in wins (10) and eighth in GAA (2.23).
5) OUTSHOOTING EVERYONE: The Wolves have won the shots battle in each of their last 16 games — breaking the franchise record of 14 set by the 1998-99 team. Chicago leads the AHL with 34.83 shots per game and ranks second in fewest shots allowed (25.78).

a little blurb from the recent recap article. Warofsky is going to be a hot commodity soon.

Why the best start in team history? - Chicago Wolves

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

BEST START IN FRANCHISE HISTORY

We get it. The Wolves have been on the road for the last two weeks, which makes it hard to stay focused on the hottest team in hockey. So here’s the chance to take two minutes and get caught up on all of the magnificent things the Chicago Wolves have accomplished in the first eight weeks of the American Hockey League season.
1) BEST START IN FRANCHISE HISTORY: Head coach Ryan Warsofsky’s Wolves own a 17-4-1-1 record. That .783 points percentage is the best in team history through 23 games, which is saying something because the Wolves have four league championships and three other trips to the finals to show for their first 27 seasons.
2) NINE-GAME WINNING STREAK: For the first time since 2005-06, the Wolves are riding a nine-game winning streak. The team’s longest streak, by the way, is 12 games set by the 1999-2000 team that won the Turner Cup.
3) PILING UP THE POINTS: Captain Andrew Poturalski has a head start on being the first AHL player in 24 years to win back-to-back scoring titles. He owns 34 points (12G, 22A) in 23 games. His linemates aren’t far behind as C.J. Smith ranks second with 27 points (10G, 17A) and Stefan Noesen (10G, 14A) shares fourth.
4) STOPPING EVERYTHING: Veteran goaltender Alex Lyon ranks second with his 1.63 goals-against average. Rookie Eetu Makiniemi, who rotates games with Lyon, ranks second in wins (10) and eighth in GAA (2.23).
5) OUTSHOOTING EVERYONE: The Wolves have won the shots battle in each of their last 16 games — breaking the franchise record of 14 set by the 1998-99 team. Chicago leads the AHL with 34.83 shots per game and ranks second in fewest shots allowed (25.78).

a little blurb from the recent recap article. Warofsky is going to be a hot commodity soon.

Why the best start in team history? - Chicago Wolves

Chicago has had a perfect situation of sorts with the Carolina farm. They can basically create super clubs with their usual veteran-heavy lines AND get a ton of depth behind them with those vaunted young prospects. It'll be really interesting to see if Poturalski finally starts a late-blooming NHL career a la Freddy Gaudreau, because even though he's always had those AAAA vibes, he's been toying around with the A this season to a larger extent than even in past years.

 

[WreckingCrew]

Chicago has had a perfect situation of sorts with the Carolina farm. They can basically create super clubs with their usual veteran-heavy lines AND get a ton of depth behind them with those vaunted young prospects. It'll be really interesting to see if Poturalski finally starts a late-blooming NHL career a la Freddy Gaudreau, because even though he's always had those AAAA vibes, he's been toying around with the A this season to a larger extent than even in past years.

I just don't know, I never saw anything to his game that screamed NHL talent...some guys can flat-out dominate the AHL but just not make the jump (see T.J. Tyan, Terry, Giroux, Aucoin)

 

[tarheelhockey]

I just don't know, I never saw anything to his game that screamed NHL talent...some guys can flat-out dominate the AHL but just not make the jump (see T.J. Tyan, Terry, Giroux, Aucoin)

Yeah, I think of Poturalski as a true AAAA guy. The guy turns 28 in a month, it would be shocking if he became a notable NHL talent at this stage.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I just don't know, I never saw anything to his game that screamed NHL talent...some guys can flat-out dominate the AHL but just not make the jump (see T.J. Tyan, Terry, Giroux, Aucoin)

That is very true, but it's also the case that guys like Parenteau and Gaudreau do exist and so they need to at least be considered before pegging them in. One other difference to consider is that Poturalski has only ever been called up to two NHL games. He's far more of an unknown quantity than someone like, say, Aucoin was.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Yeah, I think of Poturalski as a true AAAA guy. The guy turns 28 in a month, it would be shocking if he became a notable NHL talent at this stage.

I just mention it because 27-28 was the age that Freddy Gaudreau "Mark Donk"-ed his way to the NHL last year, and seemingly for good. Heck, Columbus has their own 28 year old overachieving undrafted guy in Justin Danforth make a so-far successful late run at the NHL. Especially since Pots has only had a 2 game cup of coffee, you have to add a certain degree of mystery here that you don't normally get with AAAA types. Yes, these types of career arcs are oddities for a reason, but I'm just saying that there's precedence just over the last couple of years.

 

[LakeLivin]

We're talking about late break throughs and no mention yet of Derek Ryan? I just checked and was surprised to see that he's now played in 383 NHL games.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I just mention it because 27-28 was the age that Freddy Gaudreau "Mark Donk"-ed his way to the NHL last year, and seemingly for good. Heck, Columbus has their own 28 year old overachieving undrafted guy in Justin Danforth make a so-far successful late run at the NHL. Especially since Pots has only had a 2 game cup of coffee, you have to add a certain degree of mystery here that you don't normally get with AAAA types. Yes, these types of career arcs are oddities for a reason, but I'm just saying that there's precedence just over the last couple of years.

I must be missing something about Freddy Gaudreau. Is he really that assured of an NHL career with those stats?

(also, full disclosure, at first I thought you said Johnny Gaudreau in reference to Poturalski's size)

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I must be missing something about Freddy Gaudreau. Is he really that assured of an NHL career with those stats?

(also, full disclosure, at first I thought you said Johnny Gaudreau in reference to Poturalski's size)

So far, he's played like it. He's done a really good job in Minnesota, though he had a COVID bout these couple of weeks.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

With Leivo and Smith getting called up, Noah Corson and Stephen Harper are called up from the ECHL.

Harper has played with Chicago already. Corson will make his AHL debut at 23 years of age tonight.

Blake Murray hurt? If not, not a good look.

 

[A Star is Burns]

Both those guys are older and out producing Murray. We know Chicago values vets and winning, so I don't think it's a big deal. Canes might also have said if you're bringing someone up to take limited bottom of the lineup minutes, just leave Murray to play a level lower.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

At least in this organization, the ECHL has proven to not be a kiss of death for an ELCed prospect. In fact, I believe Lorentz spent his entire first signed year with us there, and then half a season after that. Perhaps they plan on a similar tact with Blake Murray.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

recently called up Lacroix and Milwaukee's LaBate went at it so far. They have fought twice. Lacroix took exception to a cross check by LaBate, early in the 2nd. 4 minutes after getting out of the box for fighting Labate fought Kyle Marino (another ECHL call up). Lacroix got mixed in there. Lacroix and LaBate got misconducts.

scoreless game with 1:30 left in the 2nd. The makeshift Wolves / ECHL call ups have only allowed 15 shots so far.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

3 minutes left and still tied. Shots are 36-21 in favor of Chicago.

no matter what happens Manitoba looks like they will lose. We won’t lose any lead to them.

edit: going to OT. Put streak continues to 12

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

3 minutes left and still tied. Shots are 36-21 in favor of Chicago.

no matter what happens Manitoba looks like they will lose. We won’t lose any lead to them.

And Bokk wins it in OT! 1-0 is the final score.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Bokk scores the winner in OT.

winning streak to 11!

@geehaad makiniemi pitched a 25 shot shutout

2 points gained on 2nd place Manitoba

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Bokk scores the winner in OT.

winning streak to 11!

@geehaad makiniemi pitched a 25 shot shutout

2 points gained on 2nd place Manitoba

Bokk's played really well recently after a snake-bitten first half. This is where that AHL veteran cushion, aka. Pots/Smith/Noesen/Leivo, can help a club like Chicago, though. Young players can be very hot-and-cold.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

Bokk scores the winner in OT.

winning streak to 11!

@geehaad makiniemi pitched a 25 shot shutout

2 points gained on 2nd place Manitoba

Utica is 18-1-2. Absurd.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Utica is 18-1-2. Absurd.

I mean, you'd expect that an AHL affiliate of an NHL club that currently stinks will be really good. Even considering that, though, that's an impressive record. Even more so because they don't have many PPG type of talents on it.