DRAMATIC COMEBACK WIN

BEV 6
THU 7
>>>
Thunder Bay, ON- With the drama of the trade deadline complete, the Thunder Bay Timberwolves were set for a showdown with the Beverly Hills Lawmasters at the Canadian National Gardens before another sellout crowd.
>>>Newly acquired winger, Antti Miettinen began his Timberwolves career on the third line with TJ Oshie (pictured), centered by Mike Fisher.
>>>Before some fans had settled into their seats, the Lawmasters struck first with Teemu Selanne's 15th of the season at 00:40.
>>>Denis Grebeshkov would score two more to put the visitors up 3-0 by 12:23 in the first.
>>>Timeout was called by Craig Hartsburg before the ensuing faceoff.
>>>"To say we weren't set at the drop of the puck would be putting it mildly," said Timberwolves defenseman Sheldon Souray. "The timeout was definately needed just to get our bearings."
>>>At 14:36, Patrick Sharp began righting the ship by scoring his 12th from Matt Niskanen and Oshie. With thirty-five seconds left in opening period, Sharp would draw blood again to pull the Timberwolves within one going into the intermission. Assists came from Miettinen and and Niskanen. Miettinen's first point as a member of his new club.
>>>"Scoring late in periods is always a good thing for moral," said Mike Fisher. "You want the momentum more than anything before going into the room."
>>>The momentum was not maintained, and Beverly Hills began pulling away at 5:37 into the second with a tally from Mark Recchi.
>>>At 15:27, Dany Heatley completed the answer to Thunder Bay's first period goals, by scoring his 47th to put the Lawmasters up 5-2.
>>>Marian Gaborik struck back and weaved through the offensive zone, and sniping a wrist shot over the shoulder of a down Mikka Kiprusoff at 18:19.
>>>Evgeni Malkin tried to hammer in the last nail in the coffin at 19:16 by putting Beverly Hills up 6-3.
>>>Mike Fisher would have non of that, and scored his 6th of the season at 19:40. Again, taking the momentum into the room.
>>>"Absolutely essential," said Patrick Sharp. "We're already down. We need something to build on. Malkin's goal took the wind out of the sails a bit. But we never let up."
>>>The third period belonged to Thunder Bay. In front of 19,434, the Timberwolves took to the ice in front of a playoff-like, raucus crowd. They would not be disappointed.
>>>Fifty-five seconds in, Mathieu Schneider took a two-handed whack on the arm of Marian Gaborik. A frustrated Schneider sat for two. Gaborik was not injured.
>>>At 1:42, Bryan Little finished off what was the most amazing display of stickwork one might see in their lifetime from David Perron and Ales Hemsky. Little's 27th in his rookie season.
>>>At 6:14, TJ Oshie took a feed from Niskanen and Jay McKee. Taking the Timberwolves from the brink and tying the game.
>>>For much of the remainder of the game, both teams tightened up defensively and limited the offensive chances. Overtime of eminant.
>>>But on one final drive, Souray setup a streaking Antti Miettinen who went 2-on-1 with Oshie in on Kiprusoff. The Lawmasters' keeper let his defense take the pass and he setup on who he thought was the shooter--Miettinen. He was wrong, and Miettinen paid for the fourth rounder to acquire him with a saucer pass over the defenders stick and on the tape of Oshie's. Who one-timed it into a near open net at 19:52.
>>>The eight seconds were enough to hold for the dramatic win. Putting the the Timberwolves over the .500 mark for the first time in a long time (30-29-3).
>>>
>>>3-STARS
>>>***Denis Grebeshkov (BEV) - 2 goals and an assist
>>>**Antti Miettinen (THU) - 2 assists
>>>*TJ Oshie (THU) - Game-tying and Game-winning goals and 2 assists
>>>
>>>Next Game: Monday - At Wisborg (20-37-5)

WOLVES CLAIM TRADE SUCCESS AT DEADLINE

Thunder Bay, ONT- Despite rumours of vast changes, the Thunder Bay Timberwolves made subtle moves in the days leading up to the trade deadline for the future.
>>>Feb. 20th-
>>>To THU: Springfield's 2nd round pick
>>>To ND: Bryan McCabe
>>>McCabe was a tough pill to swallow for the Timberwolves to move. He lead the d-corps in points and played vital minutes on the top pairing with Sheldon Souray. But being in his mid-30s and Thunder Bay getting a second round pick in return. It was a deal that made sense for a club that is clearly looking beyond this season.
>>>Feb. 23rd-
>>>To THU: Jason Garrison (prospect)
>>>To LNZ: Dean McAmmond
>>>For the second year in a row, Dean McAmmond was signed in the offseason by the Timberwolves to a one-year deal and then dealt at the trade deadline.
>>>This trade is specific to what the Timberwolves are in the midst of. McAmmond was not a regular in the lineup. Although a fan favourite, and held in high regard by Blake Wendt and the Timberwolves brass. He is in his late 30s, a free agent and had not secured his spot in the lineup.
>>>The return of a blueliner prospect like Garrison, who has a legitimate upside and pro future, was above and beyond the best move possible for Wendt to move McAmmond.
>>>Feb. 25th-
>>>To THU: Antti Miettinen (pictured)
>>>To REK: Thunder Bay's 4th round pick
>>>It's not often that a team that covets draft picks like the Timberwolves do, would trade a pick at the deadline for a roster player. But Wendt believes again, that the acquisition of Miettinen is one that makes his hockey club better next season and for the future.
>>>"Antti is a highly underrated player in our opinion. He's very hockey smart, has deceptive speed and knows how to get himself and the puck in the right spot consistently. He's versatile enough to grind it out on the bottom lines. Or savvy and skilled enough to take the game at you on the scoring lines. We believe in our scouts that we would still get a very nice player with that fourth. But Miettinen is everything we want in a player right now.
>>>So in the end, how did the Timberwolves do at the 2010 CCHL Trade Deadline?
>>>They gave up a thirty-six year old unrestricted free agent, a top-pairing but thirty-four year old defenseman and a fourth round pick.
>>>What they got back was a twenty-nine year old versatile forward that can be re-signed cheap, a big, bruising defenseman prospect that will fight for a roster spot as early as next season, and a second round pick.

MCCABE TRADED TO IBEX

Thunder Bay, ON- With less than a week remaining before the CCHL trade deadline, the Thunder Bay Timberwolves have sent veteren defenseman, Bryan McCabe to the North Dakota Ibex for Springfield's second round pick in this years Entry Draft.
>>>McCabe was not available for comment following the deal, but Timberwolves general manager Blake Wendt spoke high praises of his former blueliner.
>>>"Bryan was a victim of a re-build in full swing," said Wendt. "He would not have been moved and would've played out the remainder of his contract in this sweater had there not been a top-44 pick coming back to us. Bryan was not in the dark and is not naive to our current situation. As a veteren player, he has a very good opportunity for immediate success in Bismarck. We wish him the best of luck and thank him for his time here and his guidence and knowledge passed onto our youner players."
>>>With a high minute slot on the Timberwolves' backend open, there needed to be a replacement. That came within an hour of the trade's announcement.
>>>Aaron Ward (pictured) was signed to a pro-rated, one-year deal as an unrestricted free agent. The thirty-seven year old Windsor-native will be in the lineup tomorrow against Winnipeg. He has been assigned the number 8.

WOLVES DROP KILLERS

THU 2
KRL 1
>>>
Karlstad, SWE- For only the third time this season, the Thunder Bay Timberwolves have pieced together a 3-game winning streak. Against one of the best clubs in the CCHL, and on the road.
>>>Less then five minutes into the first period, Timberwolves defenseman Bryan McCabe blasted a shot from the point through a screened Tomas Vokoun.
>>>McCabe's lone goal would hold for the remainder of the first and through the second periods.
>>>Thunder Bay's goaltender, Jonas Hiller (pictured) withstood a barrage of shots from the league's best Karlstad Killers. Stopping forty through the first sixty minutes.
>>>"Jonas is a tremendous goalie," said Timberwolves general manager, Blake Wendt. "He plays with poise beyond his years, is so technical and well-positioned and rarely lets a puck bounce out up the middle. He doesn't get the recognition he should, but I'm sure he's fine with that." Referring to the Swiss tenders shy demeanor.
>>>At 7:55 in the third period, David Perron doubled up the score for the Timberwolves for his 18th of the season from McCabe and Marc Savard.
>>>Patrick Marleau would finally break through Hiller for Karlstad's first and lone goal of the contest at 12:24.
>>>"They came out determined to knock us down," said Timberwolves captain, Keith Ballard. "But we played tight and limited our mistakes and countered nicely.
>>>The Timberwolves continue their roadtrip Monday as they head south to take on the Havana Moon (22-28-5).
>>>
>>>3-STARS
>>>***Marc Savard (THU) - 2 assists
>>>**Bryan McCabe (THU) - Goal and an assist
>>>*Jonas Hiller (THU) - Stopped 46 of 47 shots (including all 24 in the 1st period)
>>>
>>>Injuries: D Jay McKee (7 days)
>>>
>>>Player movement:
>>>To THU: Springfield's 5th round pick (2010 Entry Draft)
>>>To SPR: Antoine Lafleur (G) and Jason Bailey (F)
>>>---
>>>To THU: Quebec's 4th and 5th round picks (2010 Entry Draft)
>>>To QUE: Trevor Cann (G)

INCONSISTENCIES CONTINUE

ISL 5

THU 4

>>>

Thunder Bay, ON- For a team that preaches consistency, the Thunder Bay Timberwolves have been anything but this season.

>>>Only twice this season have the Timberwolves won more than three in a row. Only to be followed by three or four losses in a row. After two straight wins against Victoria and Calgary, the Long Island Express came to Thunder Bay looking to do what was expected of them. Beat the Timberwolves.

>>>T.J. Oshie opened the scoring for the Timberwolves at 2:02 in the first. Brad Boyes answered for the Express at 4:26.

>>>Marian Gaborik (pictured) would close out the scoring in the opening period with two power play goals to put the Timberwolves up 3-1.

>>>That lead was erased in the second, as the Express would score the only three goals of the period. Including a short-handed tally from John Madden.

>>>Long Island would go up by two at 4:23 in the third period. The damage was done despite a Dean McAmmond six minutes later for the Timberwolves.

>>>"This is a game we should've had," said Timberwolves head coach, Craig Hartsburg. "We're currently sitting in a playoff spot that we don't deserve to be in. This win two, lose two stuff isn't going to cut it."

>>>At 22-24-3 and 47 points, the Timberwolves currently sit in 12th place where the top-16 make the playoffs in the CCHL. Winnipeg with 43 points currently sits at 16th.

>>>"The margin for error is very small," said Timberwolves general manager, Blake Wendt. "We have to piece together longer stretches of wins in order to climb out of this dog fight at the bottom of contending teams."

>>>Next game: Thursday vs the River Cities Renegades (31-9-9)

>>>

>>>3-STARS

>>>***Brad Boyes (ISL) - Goal and 2 assists

>>>**Marian Gaborik (THU) - 2 power play goals and an assist

>>>*Mark Streit (ISL) - Game-winning goal and an assist