Wolves vs. Ice Hogs could be classic clash
For fans of the Chicago Wolves, the Rockford IceHogs and even the Blackhawks, this is the series they wanted all along.
The Wolves and IceHogs renew what has become in its first year an intense American Hockey League rivalry Thursday at Allstate Arena in Game 1 of their best-of-seven Calder Cup West Division final series.
There is no lack of familiarity between the two teams. Not only is Rockford the Hawks' top affiliate, the IceHogs and Wolves met 10 times during the regular season -- with Chicago winning six games, including all five in Rosemont.
The last time the Wolves and IceHogs met on April 12 there were 186 minutes in penalties handed out and more than 14,000 on hand watching at Allstate Arena.
If nothing else, this should be an entertaining series on a lot of levels.
Offense: The Wolves are balanced, have a dangerous power play and can be explosive.
League MVP Jason Krog didn't have a goal in the first round against Milwaukee, but he dished out 6 assists. Jesse Schultz and Darren Haydar each had 3 goals against the Admirals. The line of Schultz, Joe Motzko and Bryan Little was very good in round one.
Rockford was 0-for-19 on the power play in its first-round series, but Houston was 0-for-20. Kris Versteeg had 3 goals in the five games and Derek Nesbitt 2. Center Martin St. Pierre had 4 points but was quiet on the power play. Dave Bolland, who appeared in 39 games with the Hawks, was scoreless in the first round.
Defense: The Wolves are active and showed it against Milwaukee with Brian Fahey, Joel Kwiatkowski, Nathan Oystrick and Boris Valabik combining for 3 goals and 11 points in the six games.
Rockford is led by Niklas Hjalmarsson, one of the Hawks' top prospects, Ryan Stokes and Jim Fahey. Jordan Hendry, who played so well in 40 games with the Hawks, missed the first round with a head injury.
Goaltending: All eyes should be on this battle between the Wolves' Ondrej Pavelec and Rockford's Corey Crawford.
Pavelec starred against Milwaukee with a 1.74 goals-against average and .929 save percentage that included a shutout in the Game 6 clincher.
Crawford, who is the Hawks' goalie of the future, allowed only 6 goals in five games against Houston. His 1.10 goals-against average was the best in the AHL in the first round.
Intangibles: It's the playoffs, which means there likely won't be a lot of fighting -- yet bad blood is bad blood.
The Wolves won all five games at Allstate Arena, a tough place to play.
Wolves coach John Anderson and Rockford's Mike Haviland are experienced and have won championships.