WOLVES LOSE 1st IN 11; VOLCHENKOV HURT

Volchenkov injured in rare Wolves loss
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Bismarck, N.Dak- For the first time in 11 contests, the Timberwolves suffer a 3-1 loss to the North Dakota Ibex in Bismarck. Even more painful though, is the loss of their defensive specialist, Anton Volchenkov.
>>>Blair Betts lone goal was the Edmonton-native's first in a Thunder Bay sweater. It was the start he and the Timberwolves were looking for. But three unanswered Ibex goals, including a pair from Owen Nolan dropped the #1 team in the CCHL.
>>>"It's a tough break," remarked head coach Craig Hartsburg after the game. Referring to the game and not Volchenkov. "We didn't show up today. Simple as that. I don't know if we're low on gas or just not in it mentally. But we're a better team that what we showed out there today."
>>>The entire Timberwolves team struggled, but Henrik Lundqvist seemed more off his game than anyone else. Lundqvist stopped all 8 shots faced in the first 20 minutes, but went onto let in 2 off of 7 in the 2nd period, and 1 of 6 shots in the 3rd. Not near the elite performance shown since coming to Thunder Bay.
>>>"I'm not putting it on Henrik," said defenseman Nick Schultz. "He did what he could and they were just getting their bounces. It's hockey, it happens. We'll be there for the next one."
>>>The next one is tomorrow back in Thunder Bay for the home-at-home against these same Ibex. Redemption doesn't need to wait long for this one.
>>>Not going to be there, at least not dressed, will be two of the Timberwolves top defensemen. Erik Johnson will sit out one more game after being injured the game before. Volchenkov will be out 10 days with an "upper body injury". Sheldon Souray was recalled from Duluth for this game for Johnson, and Adam Foote will be brought up for Volchenkov.
>>>"We're dinged up," an obvious statement from GM Blake Wendt. "We've been lucky this season, so we knew we were due. It's time for everyone to step up and get through this."
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>>>3-STARS
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>>>*Owen Nolan (BIS) - 2 goals
>>**David Legwand (BIS) - 2 assists
>***Evgeny Artyukhin (BIS) - Goal