Chelios gets first points as Wolves roll
ROSEMONT, Ill.---Wolves' defenseman Chris Chelios added his first two points since joining the team, while Chicago scored a season-high seven goals to defeat the Abbotsford Heat 7-1 Saturday.
The win was also the first under new coach Don Lever, who replaced Don Granato last Tuesday. Chicago's six goal output in the game's first 40 minutes alone was more than the team had scored in its last three games combined.
Chelios, who signed with the Wolves last week, got his first points on two assists. Chelios' first assist came in the second period on a goal by right wing Tim Stapleton. Chelios helped out another right wing, Joey Crabb, in the third period. Crabb added the final goal for Chicago, which got its first win in four games.
Right wing Spencer Machacek scored the first of his two goals with 1:55 left in the first when he stole the puck from David Shantz as the goaltender went to play it behind the net, and quickly wrapped it around into the empty goal. Machacek's second goal came after that, when he flung a long shot past Shantz 10:03 into the second period.
Center Jason Krog's shot past Shantz from the left faceoff circle at the 12:46 mark in the second period made the score 4-0. Left wing Brett Sterling roofed a shot off of a quick cross-ice pass from Machacek to give the Wolves a 5-0 lead with 1:46 left in the second period. Just 72 seconds later, Stapleton's goal sent Chicago into the second intermission with a 6-0 lead. It was the first time in eight games this season that the club has held a lead heading into the final 20 minutes.
Crabb's goal at the 15:58 mark of the third period capped the scoring for Chicago. Abbotsford defenseman Matt Pelech pulled a goal back for the Heat when he cranked a long shot to end the shutout bid.
Right wing Andrew Kozek opened up the scoring with his third goal of the season, moving around Shantz and putting it in the net 10:41 into the first period.
Drew MacIntyre (1-4-0) earned his first win in a Wolves uniform, recording 30 saves on 31 shots. Shantz turned aside 28 shots for the Heat.
The Wolves (2-5-0-1) will host the Rockford IceHogs at the Allstate Arena on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
