ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Chicago Wolves scored twice late to force overtime, but the Rockford IceHogs claimed a 4-3 shootout win in Illinois Lottery Cup action on Friday night at the MetroCentre.
Forwards Jeremy Welsh and Pat Cannone tallied in the third period to rally the Wolves (2-1-0-1) from a 3-1 deficit and force overtime. Right wing Danny Kristo produced a goal and an assist for Chicago.
“I thought we had a pretty solid game,” said Wolves head coach John Anderson. “I liked the way we battled back. I thought we took the play to them from the second period on.”
Rockford left wing Pierre-Cedric Labrie opened the scoring at 10:15 of the first period as he tipped Erik Gustafsson’s slap shot from the left point and it bounced through traffic and past Wolves goaltender Jordan Binnington.
The IceHogs (3-3-0-0) made it 2-0 just 62 seconds later as Ryan Hartman poked home a puck lying in the crease just as Binnington lunged to cover it with his glove.
The Wolves cut the margin to 2-1 on Kristo’s goal at 14:04 of the second period as Rockford couldn’t clear the puck. Kristo claimed possession in the right circle, skated in on Rockford goaltender Michael Leighton and flipped the puck over his glove.
Rockford regained a two-goal lead on Mark McNeill’s goal at 5:06 of the third. The IceHogs turned a faceoff win into a 2-on-1 rush that concluded with McNeill roofing a shot from close range.
Chicago rallied again as Welsh chipped home a rebound from just outside the crease to pull the Wolves within 3-2 with 6:01 to play. Jordan Schmaltz and Justin Hodgman set up Welsh’s power-play score.
Cannone pulled the Wolves even with 4:58 to go during 4-on-4 play. Petteri Lindbohm launched a blast from just inside the blue line and flew into Cannone’s jersey. The puck dropped to Cannone’s feet just outside the crease and he flipped it over Leighton’s glove for a 3-3 knot.
Kristo gave the Wolves a 1-0 lead in the shootout, but Jeremy Morin and Garret Ross rallied Rockford with tallies in the second and third rounds.
Binnington (2-0-1) stopped 21 of 24 shots during regulation and overtime, which included Hartman’s penalty shot at 7:47 of the first. Leighton (3-2-0) rejected 33 of 36 shots in regulation and OT to earn the victory.
The Wolves host Breast Cancer Awareness Day – benefiting A Silver Lining Foundation and Chicago Wolves Charities — at 3 p.m. Sunday as the Charlotte Checkers visit Allstate Arena. To purchase tickets or Stick It To Breast Cancer T-shirts, sweatshirts and pucks, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
ICEHOGS 4, WOLVES 3 (SO)
Chicago 0 1 2 0 0 — 3
Rockford 2 0 1 0 1 — 4
First Period—1, Rockford, Labrie 1 (Gustafsson, Dowell), 10:15; 2, Rockford, Hartman 1 (Dano, Kero); 11:17. Penalties—Gustafsson, Rockford (hooking), 2:40; Morin, Rockford (high-sticking double-minor), 16:32.
Second Period—3, Chicago, Kristo 3 (unassisted), 14:04. Penalties—Veilleux, Chicago (cross-checking), 3:15; Rasmussen, Rockford (roughing), 5:16; Vaughan, Chicago (hooking), 7:55; Rockford (too many men, served by Mashinter), 10:09; Beach, Chicago (unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:41; Hartman, Rockford (unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:41; Chicago (too many men, served by Doty), 17:44.
Third Period—4, Rockford, McNeill 2 (Mashinter, Gotovets), 5:06; 5, Chicago, Welsh 1 (Schmaltz, Hodgman), 13:59 pp; 6, Chicago, Cannone 3 (Lindbohm, Kristo), 15:02;
Penalties—Ross, Rockford (slashing), 2:47; Labrie, Rockford (hooking), 9:52; Labrie, Rockford (roughing), 12:04; Harrold, Chicago (interference), 14:30; Dano, Rockford (intereference), 14:41.
Overtime—None. Penalties—None.
Shootout—Rockford 2 (Dano NG, Morin G, Ross G); Chicago 1 (Kristo G, Paajarvi NG, Barbashev NG). Shots on goal—Chicago 13-9-14-0-0â �”36; Rockford 7-6-5-6-1—25. Power plays—Chicago 1-9; Rockford 0-4. Goalies—Chicago, Binnington (21-24); Rockford, Leighton (33-36). Penalty shot—Hartman stopped by Binnington, 7:47 of first period. Referees—Kendrick Nicholson and Jamie Koharski. Linesmen—Chad Roethlisberger and Al Stensland.