[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Chicago Wolves started their season in triumphant fashion Saturday night as they kicked off their 21st year with a 2-1 victory over the Charlotte Checkers.
Forwards Colin Fraser and Jeremy Welsh notched tallied for the Wolves in front of 10,399 fans at the Allstate Arena for the win while goaltender Matt Climie posted 14 saves. Chicago (1-0-0-0) improve their season opening record to 13-6-1-1 all-time. The win was also head coach John Anderson’s 300th regular season victory at the arena.
“I thought we played strong,” Anderson said. “We want to control the puck as much as possible. When we have it, then they don’t. I think we can make a few better plays and finish a little bit better, but their goalie did play well too.”
The game was wrapped up in the second period, as the frame saw all of the scoring take place.
Fraser tallied the season’s first goal 3:42 into the second frame. Terry Broadhurst collected the puck along the left board and circled behind the net, following with a pass to Cody Beach. Beach found Fraser rocketing down the slot for a one-timer past the Charlotte goalie John Muse.
“I put (Fraser) with a couple young, hungry guys (Beach and Yannick Veilleux) and I thought their line was very good out there,” Anderson said. The 29-year old Fraser has three Stanley Cup championships on his resume.
At the 8:10 mark, Trevor Carrick of Charlotte lifted the puck out of his team’s end to set up a 2-on-1 rush. Brendan Woods carried the puck down the left side before feeding it to Jared Staal to put it away.
Welsh earned the game-winner 14:16 into the second period with a slap shot from the high slot. Rob Bordson carried the puck into the offensize zone with momentum but stalled out, allowing Welsh to collect the puck from behind and beat Muse glove-side. This was Welsh’s first goal with the Wolves.
Charlotte finished with 15 shots. Their first shot on goal didn’t register until the 15-minute, 32-second mark. Muse (0-1-0) stopped 27 shots in the loss.
Chicago will continue their season-opening five-game homestand this afternoon in game two against Charlotte.
WOLVES 2, CHECKERS 1
Charlotte 0 1 0 -- 1
Chicago 0 2 0 -- 2
First Period---None. Penalties---Charlotte (too many men, served by Aleardi), 1:59; Welsh, Chicago (slashing), 5:07; Rissane, Charlotte (delay of game), 10:51; Boychuk, Charlotte (unsportsmanlike conduct), 13:58; Beach, Chicago (unsportsmanlike conduct), 13:58.
Second Period---1, Chicago, Fraser 1 (Beach, Broadhurst), 3:42; 2, Charlotte, Staal 1 (Woods, Carrick), 8:10; 3, Chicago, Welsh 1 (Bordson, Butler), 14:16; Penalties---Brodeur, Chicago (tripping), 16:34; LaRose, Charlotte (slashing), 19:02; Woods, Charlotte (delay of game), 19:28.
Third Period---None. Penalties---Sopel, Chicago (roughing), 2:41; Biega, Charlotte (cross-checking), 5:13; Schmitz, Charlotte (slashing), 11:30; Cannone, Chicago (goaltender interference), 16:46.
Shots on goal--- Charlotte 1-8-6—25; Chicago 10-9-10—29. Power plays---Charlotte 0-4; Chicago 0-6. Goalies—Charlotte, Muse (27-29); Chicago, Climie (14-15). A---10,399. Referee---Garrett Rank. Linesmen---Brent Hooks and Al Stensland.
