Chicago Wolves from worst to second in a month

The blue line, with the strength of Chris Chelios, has gotten tougher in the last month. It has other respected defensemen too: Nathan Oystrick for one and Boris Valabik for another. Valabik is assigned to the Wolves by the Atlanta Thrashers on a conditioning assignment. Fans have seen Brian Sipotz, a native of South Bend, Ind., flourish this year. His bone-crushing hit on the Rockford IceHogs alternate captain Mark Cullen Friday was a welcome change from previous years when many people could be excused for thinking Sipotz was a Swede. And his fight with Mike Brennan was a facet of Sipotz not seen before. Can you spell KO?

Arturs Kulda, unremarked, is just a point from leading the league in +/-. Sipotz is at +1 currently, with most of his defensive teammates all running within five points of zero, positive or negative. The exception being Chelios; but, Chelios is always the exception.

Fans should be asking for more from the blue line. Allowing only two goals in two nights is not a sign of defensive strength when there are more than 40 shots on goal each night. Depending on your goalie to save your bacon, like this, is asking to be burned.

On the other end of the ice I think the best measure of the problem is the terrible power play. I've been adjusting the power play for the change in coaching. On that measure, the power play since Lever took over is running 6.1 percent, dead last in the league.

I've never liked the fans screaming to shoot the puck, but the know-nothings may be onto something. Eventually Chelios is going to move on. Very soon Valabik will be returning to Atlanta, followed quickly by Oystrick. The way Kulda plays he'll be on a flight to Atlanta before long too. If that happens When that happens the Wolves defense becomes much weaker.

These are great efforts by the guys in the pipes; it needs to be reflected on the other end of the ice. Shoot the puck already.

Angelo Esposito is undergoing an MRI Monday. Oystrick remains questionable with an upper body injury that appears to be a fresh surgical wound. Kulda is considered day-to-day. Chelios rushed from the game Sunday to be an honorary captain at the Chicago Bears v Philadelphia Eagles game at Soldier Field.