ROSEMONT, Ill. – Yannick Veilleux’s goal with 8:20 to play snapped a tie as the Chicago Wolves earned a 3-1 victory over the Manitoba Moose on Friday night at Allstate Arena.Forward Zach O’Brien scored the game’s first goal and Pat Cannone added an empty-net score late as the Wolves (4-1-0-1) regained a share of first place in the AHL’s Central Division.
“We played a pretty smart game,” said Wolves head coach John Anderson. “We only allowed them 18 shots. I thought defensively we were good. We had a really good third period.”
The Wolves’ power-play unit opened the scoring at 9:16 of the second period on O’Brien’s first goal for Chicago. Ivan Barbashev sent a pass from the right half-wall to Jeremy Welsh, who was set up just outside of the crease. Welsh dished a no-look backhand pass toward the bottom of the left circle for O’Brien, who buried the shot past Connor Hellebuyck.
Manitoba (1-5-1-1) pulled even at 1:28 of the third period as the Moose claimed an errant pass at center ice and right wing Austen Brassard finished a breakaway with a tap between goaltender Jordan Binnington’s skates.
Chicago seized the lead for good on Veilleux’s goal at 11:40 of the third. Konrad Abeltshauser launched a slap shot from the left point that Jordan Caron tipped toward the goal. Hellebuyck rejected the deflection, but Veilleux was ready on the doorstep to chip the rebound home for a 2-1 lead.
The Wolves clinched matters when Cannone delivered an empty-net goal with 1:19 to play. Cannone stepped out of the penalty box, accepted a pass from Andre Benoit along the boards and guided the puck home from the blue line for the insurance tally.
Binnington (3-0-1) stopped 17 shots to earn the win while Hellebuyck (1-4-1) posted 28 saves on 30 shots for the Moose.
The Wolves wrap up their homestand at 4 p.m. Sunday against Manitoba. When the team returns from a five-game road trip, the Wolves host Salute to Military Families Night, presented by Kia and Magellan, on Saturday, Nov. 21, and Star Wars Day on Sunday, Nov. 22. To find the best deals on ticket packages and group outings, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
WOLVES 3, MOOSE 1
Manitoba 0 0 1 — 1
Chicago 0 1 2 — 3
First Period—None. Penalties—Vannelli, Chicago (hooking), 4:40; Morrissey, Manitoba (check to the head), 17:42.
Second Period—1, Chicago, O’Brien 1 (Welsh, Barbashev), 9:16 pp. Penalties—Harrison, Manitoba (tripping), 8:43; Abeltshauser, Chicago (high-sticking double-minor), 15:24.
Third Period—2, Manitoba, Brassard 1 (Olsen), 1:28; 3, Chicago, Veilleux 2 (Caron, Abeltshauser), 11:40; 4, Chicago, Cannone 4 (Benoit, Harrold), 18:41 en.
Penalties—Brassard, Manitoba (tripping) 1:39; Cannone, Chicago (hooking), 16:46.
Shots on goal—Manitoba 11-2-5—18; Chicago 10-8-13—31. Power plays—Manitoba 0-4; Chicago 1-3. Goalies—Manitoba, Hellebuyck (28-30); Chicago, Binnington (17-18). Referees—Alex Garon and Jarrod Ragusin. Linesmen—Ryan Daisy and William Hancock.
