Wolves finish strong, clinch second in Central Division standings

Chicago did more than survive the final week. It used a packed three-game stretch to lock down second place in the Central Division, finishing with a 4-1 win at Grand Rapids, a 4-3 shootout loss at Milwaukee and a 4-2 home win over Rockford that sealed the seed.

The Wolves had already clinched a berth in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs on March 29, but the bigger target was always the spot above the cut line. At the time of that clinch, Chicago sat at 30-19-8-6 with nine regular-season games left, and interim coach Spiros Anastas made it clear the focus was not just surviving into the postseason. The push to stay in second finally paid off Sunday at Allstate Arena, when the standings locked in a better playoff position with the Calder Cup Playoffs set to begin the week of April 20.

Chicago’s Friday win in Grand Rapids showed how the Wolves are tilting late in the season. Noah Philp scored twice, Felix Unger Sorum added a goal and an assist, and Ryan Suzuki also scored in the 4-1 result. Against a Griffins team that had already clinched the division title, the Wolves handled the road assignment cleanly and kept the pressure on the race for second.

The next night in Milwaukee, Chicago still got production even in defeat. Philp scored at 9:36 of the first period, Nikita Pavlychev and Noel Gunler also scored in regulation, and Felix Unger Sorum converted in the shootout, but the Admirals won the tiebreaker 3-1. It was a point well earned in a tight game, and it kept the Wolves moving toward the finish they wanted.

Sunday was the statement. Gleb Trikozov scored twice, Philp added a goal and an assist, Unger Sorum scored again and Ivan Ryabkin chipped in two assists as Chicago beat Rockford 4-2. The win finished the season series against the IceHogs at 7-3-1-1 and gave the Wolves the kind of sharp, young attack that can matter in the playoffs.

Chicago still had three regular-season games left after the clincher, all at Allstate Arena: Manitoba on April 15, Milwaukee on April 18 and Milwaukee again on April 19. The seed is secured now, and the late surge has put the Wolves into the postseason with momentum, a clearer path and a lineup that looks like it is peaking at the right time.