Agostino has balanced Wolves moving in the right direction

Wolves left wing Kenny Agostino considers himself a passer first and a shooter second.

But during his current six-game point streak, in which he has tallied 12 points (three goals, nine assists), Agostino has combined a penchant for goal-scoring with a vision that has made his production contagious throughout the Wolves’ lineup.

In those six games, the Wolves (13-9) have notched five victories and scored at least four goals in each as they head into their game Thursday against the Grand Rapids Griffins at Allstate Arena. Agostino, along with defenseman Brad Hunt, who was recently recalled by the St. Louis Blues, have played significant roles. And the others have followed their lead.

“As a team, we’re just creating so many more chances,” said Agostino, who entered Wednesday tied for third in points in the American Hockey League with 27, two behind Hunt. “We’ve been able to capitalize on a lot of them. Whenever guys are starting to have success based on the team success, other guys will start to contribute, as well.”

After the Wolves struggled to establish rhythm early in the season, their recent run has them within two points of the second-place Griffins and four behind the Central Division-leading Milwaukee Admirals. The success hasn’t only paid dividends in the standings, but in the fashion Agostino and his teammates carry themselves.

“When you’re winning, a team is naturally going to play more free and more comfortable,” Agostino said. “You’re not gripping the stick too tight like you do when things aren’t going your way.

“It’s a lot more fun when you’re winning in the locker room, and I think it shows on the ice.”

Hunt and Agostino are on pace to become the first Wolves to surpass the 80-point mark since Jason Krog, who registered 112 points when the Wolves won the Calder Cup in 2008.

Although Agostino acknowledged it’s too early to consider such aspirations, he has the Wolves moving in the right direction and playing the brand of hockey coach Craig Berube envisioned when he took over.

“We’ve got guys contributing basically on all lines,” Berube said. “When you have that, you have balance, and that’s what you’re looking for.”

In his third year as a pro, Agostino has continued to amp up his game. He registered a team-high 43 points (15 goals, 28 assists) with the Adirondack Flames two years ago and piled up 57 (20 goals, 37 assists) last year for the Stockton Heat. But building off his recent streak, Agostino continually sets his sights higher.

Not just for himself, but for his teammates.

Agostino helped lead Yale to its first NCAA championship in 2013, and he hopes his scoring ability will translate to another title run. But there’s work to do before he shifts his focus toward pushing for that prize.

“Whenever you win a championship as a player, it’s almost like you learn to win and you get that feeling of being the best,” Agostino said. “You want to keep it, and you want to strive to retain it as much as you can. This year, we’re working to get to the playoffs first and foremost, and then you take it from there.”

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