Wolves Weekly Press Notes for May 23

The Wolves jumped out to a 2-0 series lead in the Western Conference
Final last week. This week, Chicago heads north of the border to take
care of business in attempt to reach its fourth league championship in
11 seasons. Here are the highlights:

THIS WEEK

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

Mon., May 23
at Manitoba Moose
MTS Centre
7:30 p.m.

Wed., May 25
at Manitoba Moose
MTS Centre
7:30 p.m.

Fri., May 27*
at Manitoba Moose
MTS Centre
7:30 p.m.

Sun., May 29*
vs. Manitoba Moose
Allstate Arena
3:00 p.m.

Tue., May 31*
vs. Manitoba Moose
Allstate Arena
7:00 p.m.

*If necessary

ALL GAMES WILL BE TELECAST LIVE ON COMCAST
Log on to www.chicagowolves.com and click on the Play button for audio
webcast

WOLVES REWIND (2-0)

Sat., May 21
(at) Chicago 3, Manitoba 0
--- Netminder KARI LEHTONEN turned aside all 26 shots he faced to help
the Wolves defeat the Manitoba Moose, 3-0, at the Allstate Arena in Game
2 of the Western Conference Final
--- Left wing STEVE MALTAIS and defenseman JOE CORVO each tallied a goal
and an assist
--- Blueliner TRAVIS ROCHE also scored for Chicago

Thu., May 19
(at) Chicago 4, Manitoba 0
--- The Wolves held off a late surge to defeat the Manitoba Moose, 4-3,
in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final at the Allstate Arena
--- Defenseman BRIAN SIPOTZ tallied the game-winning goal and an assist,
while center STEPHEN WEISS chipped in two helpers
--- Goaltender KARI LEHTONEN recorded 16 saves

WOLVES TO WATCH

--- KARI LEHTONEN: Matched a postseason franchise high with his second
shutout of the playoffs on Saturday ... Ranks first among active
goaltenders and second overall with a 1.59 goals-against average and a
..942 save percentage ... Shares second in the AHL with eight wins and
two shutouts ... Surrendered two or fewer goals in seven of his 10
playoff games this year

--- STEVE MALTAIS: Matched a postseason-high with two points (G, A) on
Saturday, which includes the power-play game-winner ... Paces the Wolves
with three points (G, 2A) in two playoff games against the Moose ... The
Wolves franchise leader with 61 goals and 124 points in 136 playoff
games

--- JOE CORVO: Collected a postseason-high +2 plus/minus rating and two
points (G, A) in Game 2, which includes a short-handed, empty-netter ...
Paces team blueliners with a three goals and shares first with five
points in 12 games ? both of which match career postseason highs

--- TRAVIS ROCHE: Posted his first goal of the playoffs and a
postseason-high six penalty minutes in Game 2 ... Shares second in the
AHL and paces league blueliners with a team-high +10 plus/minus rating
.... Leads team defensemen with four assists ? just one shy of matching a
postseason career-high ? and shares first with five points in 12 games

--- BRAD LARSEN: Held without a point on Thursday in Game 2, ending a
four-game point streak (2G, 5A) ... Tied for first on the Wolves with a
postseason career-high 10 points (4G, 6A) in 12 games ... Shares first
in the AHL with two game-winning goals ... Tied for second on the club
with four goals and a postseason career-high six assists

--- BRIAN SIPOTZ: Registered the game-winning goal ? his first career
professional playoff marker ? and an assist last Thursday in Game 1 ...
Notched three points (G, 2A) in 12 postseason contests after registering
eight (3G, 5A) in 75 regular-season games

--- DEREK MacKENZIE: Snapped a four-game point streak (2G, 2A) on
Thursday in Game 2 ... Ranks second on the team and is tied for fourth
in the AHL with a +9 plus/minus rating

WOLF TRACKS

--- The Wolves have held their rivals scoreless on the power play in
each of their last three games and in seven of their 12 playoff contests
this year; Chicago ranks first in the AHL on the penalty kill at 91.8
percent (67 of 73).

--- Chicago and Manitoba combined for 159 penalty minutes in Game 2, the
most by the team and a rival this postseason and 38 shy of matching the
franchise high.

--- The Wolves? 10-2 start to the playoff matches the best postseason
start in team history; Chicago has won a championship each time it has
begun the playoffs with a 10-2 mark (1998 and 2000).

--- Chicago has won four of its five road games this postseason (.800).

ZERO TOLERANCE
The Wolves earned their second shutout this postseason and 13th in
franchise playoff history last Saturday. Chicago has matched a franchise
high with two shutouts this postseason, a feat the team also
accomplished in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

NOTABLE
Chicago ranks first in the AHL on defense, allowing an average of 1.58
goals per game; the team has given up just 19 goals in 12 playoffs the
fewest among active teams. The 19 goals against this postseason mark the
fewest the team has surrendered through the first 12 playoff games in
franchise history. The Wolves have not allowed more than three goals in
a game this postseason.