Wolves Weekly: Happy Thanksgiving, the Weekend, and More

Over the weekend, the Chicago Wolves dropped both games to the Rockford IceHogs. The Wolves lost in Rockford on Friday 6-3 and then again on Saturday in a shootout, 3-2. The pair of losses dropped the Wolves to second place in the Central Division. Although the Wolves have more points than the Iowa Wild (and technically less than the Manitoba Moose), the Wild have the better points percentage, giving them the slight edge in the standings.

Although the IceHogs are only 5-6-1-0, three of their five wins have come against the dominant Wolves. It’s very odd that the IceHogs have the Wolves number during this young 2021-22 season, despite the difference in records.

No Need to Panic

For the Wolves and their fans, 8-4-1-1 is a great start to the season. Despite consecutive losses to the IceHogs, the team is still in a solid position to continue their dominance at the top of the division.

In fact, following the American Thanksgiving holiday this week, the Wolves will have another three-games-in-three-days. This time, the Wolves see the Grand Rapids Griffins for two games and the IceHogs for another matchup at Allstate Arena.

Over the course of a long season, losing streaks are bound to happen. However, the real indication of a good team is how they bounce back. The Wolves have been dominant on the road this season, and can start their three-in-three with a bang in Grand Rapids on Friday. This weekend is a good test for the Wolves following the holiday.

Kyle Marino to the ECHL

Last week, Wolves forward Kyle Marino was loaned to the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL. Marino will likely see more playing time with the Steelheads, which can only be beneficial for his development going forward.

Marino has appeared in only three games for the Wolves this season. In that time, the forward is a -1 and has accumulated 15 penalty minutes. Aside from that, he’s been held off the scoresheet at the AHL level.

Eric Gelinas to Carolina

On Tuesday, the Wolves officially reported that Eric Gelinas has been recalled by the Hurricanes from his loan. Gelinas has appeared in nine games for Chicago, tallying two goals along the way. Ironically, both of his goals came against the Rockford IceHogs. Interestingly enough, Gelinas was placed on unconditional waivers with reports he was retuning to Sweden and leaving the Hurricanes organization. However, he now finds himself in Carolina.

Gelinas will likely fill in for Ethan Bear, who is currently in COVID-19 protocols with the Hurricanes. The 30-year-old has been trying to get a look at the NHL level, but has mostly been blocked by Carolina’s blue line depth. However, a real look in Bear’s absence is something Gelinas can take advantage of.

Happy Thanksgiving

Naturally, we wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all of those who celebrate. On Tap Sports Net is thankful for you as the reader of our content. We wish nothing but good food, great memories, and an excellent holiday celebration for everyone this Thursday.

What’s On Tap Next?

Following American Thanksgiving, the Wolves travel to Grand Rapids for a Friday night tilt with the Griffins. After that, the Wolves return home for a Saturday night date with the IceHogs before welcoming the Griffins on Sunday afternoon to Allstate Arena.