UTICA, N.Y. —The Chicago Wolves held the lead midway through their first visit to Utica Memorial Auditorium, but the Utica Comets rallied to earn a 2-1 victory Tuesday night.
UTICA, N.Y. —The Chicago Wolves held the lead midway through their first visit to Utica Memorial Auditorium, but the Utica Comets rallied to earn a 2-1 victory Tuesday night.
Rookie right wing Ty Rattie produced the lone goal for the Wolves (21-15-2-2) while All-Star goaltender Jake Allen (16-10-2) stopped 28 of 30 shots.
After a scoreless first period that featured several impressive saves by Allen, Rattie opened the scoring at 1:26 of the second period when he extended his stick waist-high and deflected Taylor Chorney’s shot from the point past Utica goalie Joacim Ericsson. Dmitrij Jaskin also picked up an assist on Rattie’s team-high 14th goal of the season.
Right wing Nicklas Jensen, one of nine former Wolves suited up for Utica (13-20-2-3), tied the game at 13:03 of the second when he claimed a loose puck in the right faceoff circle, spun and delivered a wrist shot past Allen’s stick.
Former Wolves defenseman Frank Corrado produced the game-winning goal at 14:14 of the third. After Benn Ferriero fed Corrado the puck at the blue line, Corrado carried it down the right side before wristing a sharp-angled shot off the post for the go-ahead score.
Eriksson (9-11-1) made 21 saves to pick up the win.
Chicago continues its five-game road trip with a 2 p.m. game Saturday at North Division-leading Toronto. The Wolves return to Allstate Arena at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, against Midwest Division foe Iowa. For tickets, call 1-800-THE-WOLVES or visit ChicagoWolves.com.
COMETS 2, WOLVES 1
Chicago 0 1 0 — 1
Utica 0 1 1 — 2
First Period—None. Penalties—Jaskin, Chicago (goaltender interference), 12:47; Ferriero, Utica (hooking), 13:27.
Second Period—1, Chicago, Rattie 14 (Chorney, Jaskin), 1:26; 2, Utica, Jensen 6 (O’Reilly, Ferriero), 13:03. Penalties—Wannstrom, Chicago (slashing), 2:38; Utica (too many men, served by Marshall), 3:55; Sauve, Utica (interference), 8:46.
Third Period—3, Utica, Corrado 3 (Ferriero), 14:14. Penalties—Regner, Chicago (high-sticking), 5:31.
Shots on goal—Chicago: 5-10-7—22; Utica: 15-8-7—30. Power plays—Chicago 0-3; Utica 0-3. Goalies—Chicago, Allen (28-30); Utica, Ericsson (21-22). A—2,691. Referees—Chris Ciamaga and Keith Kaval. Linesmen—Jim Harper and Francis Trempe.