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Wolves Defense Seems To Awaken With Pyotr Kochetkov Back

By Chris Baker

Jan 15, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser (6) scores a goal past Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (52) during the third period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser (6) scores a goal past Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (52) during the third period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /
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Do the Chicago Wolves love having Pyotr Kochetkov back in the Windy City?? One could assume so, since he has tended the Wolves to two straight wins in as many games, since being sent back to the City With Broad Shoulders.

Jan 14, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (52) goes out onto the ice before the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (52) goes out onto the ice before the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

Combined over the two games, Kochetkov has 41 saves on 45 shots. Respectively he posted SV%s of .905 and .917. His season save percentage, in 7 games with the Wolves, is .911% and his goals-against average is 2.71. The two wins over the Manitoba Moose and Rockford IceHogs, both 6-2 dominations, might be the start of Wolves pulling themselves out of the basement. With Kochetkov back, the Wolves can mark of “Quality Goaltending” from their list of defensive woes.

Just how bad was it?

Take Zachary Sawchenko who started the majority of Chicago’s games while Kochetkov was with the Carolina Hurricanes. Over 22 games in the Second City, he’s let 71 by him and sports an almost embarrassing save percentage of .894.

But Chicago’s defense appears to be waking up. Earning points in 8 of their last 11 games is a good place to start. In that 11 game stretch they have held their opponents just 23 goals. For a team who was outscored 16 to 3 over three games in November, and lost 7-0 to the Iowa Wild on December 4th, that is a vast improvement.

Just how far the Chicago Wolves can dig their way out of the hole with Pyotr Kochetkov back between the pipes remains to be seen. It will certainly help to have a consistently good netminder, even with Kochetkov back and forth to Raleigh occasionally, in goal for the Wolves.

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