Like their NHL counterparts, the Chicago Wolves have waited a long time to get back on the ice. It has been over a week since the Wolves extinguished the Texas Stars in five games. Now, the Wolves are finally back in action. This time, their test is even tougher, facing off with the top team in the Central Division and the Western Conference, the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Through the first four games of their series with Texas, things were incredibly tight. The Wolves were shut out in Game 1, but they rebounded for an overtime win in Game 2, thanks to Domenick Fensore. Chicago continued their winning ways in Game 3, only to blow a lead in a Game 4 overtime loss. In the winner-take-all fifth game, the Wolves' offense exploded for a 6-1 win to claim the series.
Ryan Suzuki finished tied among all skaters in the series with six points, thanks in large part to a hat trick in the deciding game. His four goals are tied for the fifth most in the AHL. Bradly Nadeau finished right behind him with five points, picking up at least one point in each of the final four games. Cayden Primeau took the net for all five games, posting a .918 save percentage.
Another big part of the team's win in the Division Semifinals was the play of their defense, especially in the offensive zone. The Wolves dressed seven defensemen during the series. All of them recorded at least one point. They combined for five goals as a unit, led by Juuso Valimaki's two. To succeed against Grand Rapids, they'll need this to continue.
Overtime was a staple of the season series between these two teams
The Wolves and the Griffins met ten times during the regular season. They required overtime or a shootout to resolve five of those ten games. The first three meetings ended in a shootout, two of which were won by Grand Rapids. The Griffins won six of the ten games, though the Wolves earned points in eight of those contests, going 4-2-4.
Scoring was spread out for both teams when they met. Amadeus Lombardi led all scorers with seven points, while Sheldon Dries and Michael Brandsegg-Nygaard scored four goals each. On the Wolves' side, Justin Robidas and Felix Unger Sorum had six points. Robidas tied with Fensore for the most goals with three.
After being shut out 1-0 in Game 1 of the postseason, the Griffins turned around to win the next three games, allowing just four goals in a four-game series win over the Manitoba Moose. Young winger Carter Mazur led the Griffins with four goals and five points in the series, while veteran defenseman Erik Gustafsson recorded four points.
During the regular season, John Leonard finished second in the AHL with 33 goals, and he led the team with 54 points in 47 games. He was one of five Griffins to score at least 20 goals this season. However, of those five 20-goal scorers, only Brandsegg-Nygaard scored a goal in the opening round against the Moose.
Each side relied on both goalies throughout the season series. Sebastian Cossa took the majority of the team's starts during the regular season, but Michal Postava earned the nod against Manitoba. In six appearances against the Wolves, he allowed five goals, going 3-1-0. Amir Miftakhov made five appearances, amassing a 1-1-3 record, while Primeau went 2-1-1 with a .948 save percentage.
The Wolves began the last round on the road as the higher seed before three straight at home. For this series, the Wolves are back on the road for the first two games on Thursday and Saturday, though this series follows a traditional format, with the next two in Chicago. Only Game 3 is guaranteed, though Game 4 would also be in Chicago before Game 5 in Michigan, if needed.
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