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As much doom and gloom there has been for the St. Louis Blues, the Chicago Wolves keep finding a way to win and not let bad luck plague their season. They’ve survived the normal issues of any minor league team, injuries and call ups. After two massive wins for the Wolves this weekend, 7-3 and 5-4 respectively, here are the main talking points.
Kenny Agostino remains to be unstoppable
Agostino remains to be the AHL’s most dangerous sniper in the league. Over the course of the weekend he put up three goals, three assists and nine shots. That's incredibly productive as the forward now has 69 points in 53 games. Agostino’s totals are even higher than what they were last season with the Stockton Heat, reaching that mark in fewer games too.
Jordan Binnington trying to run the show with Copley’s departure
It hasn't been Binnington’s most successful year but by sheer fate he is now the Wolves starter in net. With Pheonix Copley now back in the Washington Capitals organization and Ville Husso still not game ready, it’s all on Binnington. The lone competition for the net is coming from recently added C.J. Motte, who is on an PTO with the Wolves. Motte has bounced around the minor pro ranks a bit after spending four seasons at Ferris State University. Going back to Binnington, he faced 69 shots on the weekend allowing seven goals for an .898 save percentage. The 23 year old has played 23 games this season and is an RFA come this summer.
If you’re reading this and aren’t to sure about names to remember I’ll give you one right now, Samuel Blais. When the likes of Agostino, Barbashev and Wade Megan all had their turns being called up the Blues, it’s largely been on Blais to carry the Wolves. Which is a big task for him, as this is Blais’s first season as a pro. With four assists and one goal this weekend, the 2014 draft pick now has 34 points on the year. That puts Blais 16th overall for AHL rookies this season. Fellow teammate Vince Dunn is also ranked high for American league rookies at 20th. Despite not having the strongest of performances this weekend, Dunn did rack up a handful of helpers. More importantly Dunn figured out that “less is more” the hard way, as his decisions with the puck back fired more then a handful of times. Though to head coach Craig Berube’s credit, the young defenseman was never benched. Let’s hope the lessons learned this weekend will be ones Dunn can build on in the future.
The Wolves are tied for first place in the central division with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Detroit Redwing’s AHL club. There’s only 17 games left on the year and the chances of the Wolves missing the playoffs are nearly impossible. Something the Blues can’t currently speak on. The Baby Blues return to action Thursday night against the Cleveland Monsters.