Wolves Split Home Series with Marlies; Kochetkov Returns in Net
November 3, 2025 – Rosemont, IL
The Chicago Wolves hosted the Toronto Marlies for a weekend doubleheader at Allstate Arena and came away with a split. Chicago controlled Saturday’s opener 4–1 before falling 4–2 on Sunday. The weekend offered a look at the Wolves’ evolving offense, special-teams progress, and the return of goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov.
Game 1: Saturday – Wolves 4, Marlies 1
Chicago started strong on Saturday and never lost command of the game. Just 2:44 into the first period, Evan Vierling opened the scoring with his first Wolves goal, finishing a quick passing play from Noel Gunler and Nikita Pavlychev. The Marlies tied it later in the frame with a Henry Thrun power-play tally, but that was the last puck to beat the Wolves’ netminder all night.
In the second period, Dominik Badinka restored the lead when his sharp-angle shot deflected in after sustained pressure in the Toronto zone. Ivan Ryabkin and Gavin Bayreuther collected assists on the play. Chicago then doubled the advantage in the final seconds of the period when Skyler Brind’Amour redirected a Gunler shot on the power play to make it 3–1.
Early in the third, Pavlychev buried his fourth goal of the season from the left circle, again set up by Gunler, to close the scoring at 4–1. The Wolves controlled possession throughout the final frame, keeping Toronto to low-danger chances.
Photo Credit: Chase Heuer 1410 AM WRMN
Pyotr Kochetkov’s Return
Saturday also marked the return of Pyotr Kochetkov, assigned from the Carolina Hurricanes for a conditioning stint. Playing his first game with Chicago since 2023, he stopped 22 of 23 shots and looked calm and confident in net. His puck tracking and rebound control stood out, and his steady presence helped the Wolves maintain composure in front of him. The team’s defensive effort around the crease was equally sharp, limiting Toronto to few second chances.
Impact
The Wolves’ 4–1 win snapped a brief two-game skid and showcased a complete effort at both ends of the ice. Gunler finished with three assists, Pavlychev added a goal and assist, and the power play struck twice. The game also served as a reminder of Chicago’s depth—production came from both forwards and defensemen. The victory lifted the Wolves to 4-2-1-0 entering Sunday’s finale.
Photo Credit: Chase Heuer 1410 AM WRMN
Game 2: Sunday – Marlies 4, Wolves 2
The rematch took a different turn as Toronto came out with more urgency. The Marlies grabbed the lead just under four minutes into the first when Alex Nylander scored on a power play.
Chicago pulled even midway through the second period when Bayreuther fired a wrist shot past Toronto goalie Artur Akhtyamov, assisted by Felix Unger Sorum and Justin Robidas. However, Toronto quickly regained momentum with a rebound goal from Brandon Baddock to take a 2–1 lead into the third.
Early in the final frame, Nylander added his second of the game to make it 3–1. The Wolves narrowed the margin when Brind’Amour redirected a Ronan Seeley point shot on the power play, but despite outshooting Toronto 38–24, Chicago couldn’t find the equalizer. Reese Johnson sealed it with an empty-net goal late.
Goaltender Nikita Quapp made 20 saves for the Wolves, while Akhtyamov turned aside 36 shots for Toronto.
Impact
Sunday’s loss highlighted some of the Wolves’ ongoing challenges—untimely turnovers, trouble converting scoring chances, and lapses in defensive coverage. The effort was there, but consistency was not. The split left Chicago at 4-3-1-0, a solid start but one that leaves room for growth in closing out tight games.
Team Snapshot
Record: 4-3-1-0 (W-L-OTL-SOL)
Goal Differential: +1 overall after the weekend
Power Play: Three goals in two games, trending upward
Home Record: 1-1 at Allstate Arena this weekend
Top Performers: Pavlychev (4 G, 1 A), Gunler (5 A), Brind’Amour (2 G in 2 games)
Goaltending: Kochetkov’s return adds reliability; Quapp continues to provide strong secondary starts
Looking Ahead
The Wolves now prepare for a three-game stretch against the Iowa Wild. They’ll travel to Des Moines for a Thursday morning matchup before returning home for games on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.
The focus moving forward:
Keep early-game energy consistent
Tighten defensive coverage in front of the net
Sustain power-play momentum
Continue integrating Kochetkov into the rotation
If the Wolves can bring Saturday’s complete effort to the ice more consistently, they’ll have an opportunity to build on a positive start and strengthen their position in the Central Division standings.
- Daulton Cooper/Olde City Sports Network
- Photo Credit/Chase Heuer 1410 WRMN
