Western Conference notebook

chi_500.jpg
chi_200.jpg Schedule/Scores Player Stats
Goalie Stats
Chicago has won three straight games and scored 21 goals over that span, the largest three-game output in franchise history… The explosion has raised the Wolves’ goals per game average to an AHL-best 3.90… Reigning Rbk/AHL player of the week Jason Krog has a six-game scoring streak (3-11-14) and has a point in 13 of his last 14 outings (6-19-25)… He currently sits atop the league leaderboard with 40 points (12-28-40) in 29 games this season… Joel Kwiatkowski has six points (1-5-6) in his last three games, including a season-high three helpers in a 7-4 win over Peoria on Dec. 19.
gra_500.jpg
gr_200.jpg Schedule/Scores Player Stats
Goalie Stats
The Griffins square off with Toronto on Thursday for the first time since defeating them by a 6-1 final in Toronto on Nov. 28… Grand Rapids will enter with just one win in its last five games (1-2-1-1)… Each of the Griffins’ last eight games has been decided by one goal (3-3-1-1), as have 11 of their last 12 (6-3-2-1)… Grand Rapids is 3-1 in its last four shootouts since starting the year 0-2 in them… Brett Engelhardt had scored a goal in four of his last five games (4-2-6) prior to being held off the scoresheet entirely in a 2-1 shootout loss at Lake Erie on Wednesday.
ham_500.jpg
ham_200.jpg Schedule/Scores Player Stats
Goalie Stats
Hamilton plays three divisional games in three nights starting Thursday as they host Manitoba and Toronto with a trip to Rochester in between… The Bulldogs are just 1-3-1-2 in their last seven outings… Since defeating Rochester in overtime on opening night, Hamilton has lost six straight games that have extended beyond regulation, including one overtime defeat and five in a shootout… Duncan Milroy has a goal in consecutive games (2-1-3) for the first time this season.
hou_500.jpg
hou06_200.jpg Schedule/Scores Player Stats
Goalie Stats
Goaltender Nolan Schaefer has gone 9-1-0 over his last 11 starts, posting a 1.40 GAA and .948 save percentage over that span… The surge has lifted Schaefer’s overall save percentage to a league-best .930 and his GAA to 1.96, good for second in the league… Schaefer has posted two consecutive shutouts, bringing his season total to three… Defenseman Maxim Noreau tallied his first pro assist in the Aeros’ 2-0 win over Springfield on Dec. 22… Houston is riding a nine-game home points streak (8-0-0-1)… Their last regulation loss at the Toyota Center came to Syracuse on Oct. 30, a 3-2 final.
iow_500.jpg
iow_200.jpg Schedule/Scores Player Stats
Goalie Stats
The Stars’ 4-1 victory over Quad City on Wednesday snapped a five-game winless skid (0-4-0-1)… Iowa had not scored more than two goals in any of the five defeats… Goaltender Tobias Stephan turned aside 39 of 40 shots in the win over Quad City… Leading scorer Toby Petersen has a point in consecutive games (1-1-2), as does defenseman Chris Lee (0-2-2)… Iowa plays a home-and-home this weekend with Peoria, against whom the Stars are 3-0-0-0 this season.
lem_500.jpg
lem_200.jpg Schedule/Scores Player Stats
Goalie Stats
Wednesday’s 2-1 shootout win over Grand Rapids snapped a four-game losing streak for the Monsters in games that extended beyond regulation, including three shootout losses and one in overtime… Overall, five of Lake Erie’s last eight games have required more than 60 minutes to decide… Mike Wall has started five straight games in net, posting a 2-1-2 record over that span… The Monsters play four games in five nights beginning Thursday, and three of the four are against Manitoba… Lake Erie visits Winnipeg for games on New Years Eve and New Years Day.
mtb_500.jpg
mtb_200.jpg Schedule/Scores Player Stats
Goalie Stats
After scoring just once in his first 22 games this season, defenseman Zack FitzGerald tallied a goal in consecutive games last weekend, helping the Moose to a split of their two-game home set against Hamilton… Manitoba plays three road games in three nights starting Thursday, all against divisional foes… The Moose have outscored opponents 38-22 in the third period this season but have been outscored by a combined margin of 58-47 in the first and second stanzas.
mil_500.jpg
mil_200.jpg Schedule/Scores Player Stats
Goalie Stats
Milwaukee winger Antti Pihlstrom scored twice in a 14-second span on Dec. 18 and scored two more goals in his club’s next game on Dec. 21… Pihlstrom now leads the Admirals with 14 goals (14-5-19) in 27 games this season… Five of defenseman Janne Niskala’s eight goals this season have come on the power play, tying him with Pihlstrom for the team lead in that category… Goaltender Pekka Rinne is tied for the league lead with 15 wins (15-9-1) and ranks second with 1542 minutes played.
peo_500.jpg
peo_200.jpg Schedule/Scores Player Stats
Goalie Stats
Peoria has picked up a standings point in three straight games (2-0-1-0) and six of its last seven outings (5-1-1-0)… Charles Linglet continues to lead the Rivermen in goals (12) and points (30)… He had a nine-game scoring streak (9-6-15) snapped in Peoria’s 4-3 overtime loss to Rockford on Wednesday… Trent Whitfield has a point in five of his last six games (2-5-7) and eight of his last 10 (3-7-10).
qc_500.jpg
qclogo_200.jpg Schedule/Scores Player Stats
Goalie Stats
Quad City had been 4-0-0-0 against Iowa this season before dropping a 4-1 decision to the Stars on Wednesday… The Flames’ 2-1 win over Iowa on Dec. 22 marked goaltender Kevin Lalande’s first home victory as a member of Quad City… Grant Stevenson currently has a three-game scoring streak (1-2-3)… The Flames have scored just 19 of their 75 goals this season in the first period.
roc_500.jpg
roc06_200.jpg Schedule/Scores Player Stats
Goalie Stats
Winger Anthony Stewart was recalled by parent-club Florida on Thursday for the fifth time this season and the third time this month… Stewart has posted 18 points (8-10-18) in 19 games for the Americans… Rochester has lost 10 straight games to begin December, with their last win coming on Nov. 30, a 3-1 victory at Manchester… The Amerks have not scored more than three goals in a game since taking a 5-4 win at Rockford on Nov. 16, a span of 14 games.
rfd2_500.jpg
rfd_200.jpg Schedule/Scores Player Stats
Goalie Stats
Rockford has not lost in regulation since an 8-3 loss at Chicago on Nov. 24, a span of 14 games (10-0-0-4)… Goaltender Corey Crawford has been between the pipes for all 14 games of the IceHogs’ surge, posting a 1.78 GAA and .939 save percentage over that span… Winger Bryan Bickell has a goal in two straight games (2-0-2) and a point in six straight (2-4-6)… Troy Brouwer, who leads the league with 13 power play goals, has registered a point in four of his last five outings (2-2-4).
san_500.jpg
sa_200.jpg Schedule/Scores Player Stats
Goalie Stats
Travis Roche leads all Rampage defensemen in both assists (18) and points (22) in 32 games this season… He had a three-game scoring streak (1-4-5) snapped in San Antonio’s 2-0 loss at Houston on Wednesday… Joey Tenute leads all active Rampage skaters with 15 goals and 24 points through 33 games this season… Goaltender Josh Tordjman is just 1-3-0 over his last three starts.
syr_500.jpg
syr_200.jpg Schedule/Scores Player Stats
Goalie Stats
Joakim Lindstrom and Andrew Murray were recalled by parent-club Columbus on Thursday… Lindstrom had recorded 14 points (4-10-14) in six games for the Crunch since his last NHL recall… Murray had a four-game goal-scoring streak snapped in the Crunch’s 4-0 loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday… Team captain Zenon Konopka has been held scoreless in two games since a five-game scoring streak (5-5-10).
tor_500.jpg
tor05_200.jpg Schedule/Scores Player Stats
Goalie Stats
Since dropping a 6-1 decision to Grand Rapids at home on Nov. 28, the Marlies have gone 6-1-0-2… That 6-1 loss represents Toronto’s only loss by more than three goals all season… The Marlies have matched their season high with a four-game winning streak and will go for a fifth straight when they host the Griffins on Thursday… Goaltender Justin Pogge is 6-0-2 with a 1.98 GAA over his last eight starts.