Chicago Wolves continue strong December, beat Texas Stars

Saturday was another good sign for the Wolves in a month of positives.

They were outplayed but still won, beating the Texas Stars 2-1 at Allstate Arena thanks to 41 saves from Oscar Dansk and Gage Quinney’s winner with 74 seconds left.

Coach Rocky Thompson said Saturday was the first time the Wolves had been outplayed in eight games. Some lines and players struggled, and as a team, Thompson said the players weren’t mentally focused in the first 10 minutes of the game, when they were outshot 12-1.

But they still got two points, winning their third consecutive game and fourth in five.

“I thought some guys started to get going and that was better,” Thompson said. “Other people continued to struggle, but it was good to get a win in those situations because we weren’t getting points in games that we weren’t really controlling the situations. That’s a good sign.”

The Wolves are 5-2 in December, following a difficult 3-10-1 November when they struggled with inexperience, injuries and roster instability. Fortunately for them, they’re getting healthier, and the lineup is beginning to stabilize.

And they’re getting strong goaltending from Dansk, who won his fifth consecutive game and has stopped 138 of the last 146 shots he’s seen. The 41 saves Saturday were his AHL best.

“I just try to stick to my structure and play my game, my physical and mental game, and I try to stay in it,” Dansk said. “I think we’re playing well as a team, so it helps me out.”

It isn’t surprising that the Wolves are having a strong December after a challenging November. It has happened before.

Last season, the Wolves were 4-5-2 in November before going 10-3-1 in December. Two years ago, the Wolves were 2-6-3 in November and improved to 9-2-3 in December.

“The Wolves have always kind of started slow, even when I was in Rockford,” said Brandon Pirri, whose goal in the second period tied the game. “That’s just kind of the way, and they find their peak. It’s good that I think we have more to give and we’re getting there, but at the same time, we’re just having fun and we’re playing better and the results are showing.”

The Wolves and Stars play again Sunday. Thompson would take a weekend sweep and hopes the start is better in the Wolves’ last game until next weekend.

“It’s so important, [Sunday] is such a big and important game for us,” Thompson said. “We need to be at our best, and you can see Texas is a good team.”

Texas was a better team Saturday, but the Wolves got another December win. Quinney wasn’t minimizing the importance of beating the Stars, one of the teams the Wolves are fighting in the Central Division.

“It’s huge,” Quinney said. “All of the divisional games are basically four-point swings every night. You have to win these games.”

NOTE: The Stanley Cup will be on display beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday on the Allstate Arena concourse. Thompson, who remembered seeing the trophy when it traveled through his hometown of Whitecourt, Alberta, said he’d probably check out the Cup.

“How can you not, right?” Thompson said.