ROSEMONT, Ill. – Petteri Lindbohm’s third-period goal pulled the Chicago Wolves within striking range, but the San Antonio Rampage answered with an empty-net goal to take a 3-1 win Sunday afternoon at Allstate Arena. Lindbohm notched his second score of the season and goaltender Jordan Binnington posted 26 saves for the Wolves (9-6-1-1), who managed 1 goal for the third night in a row.
“You saw some of the terrific plays we made earlier in the year. They’re not happening now,” said Wolves head coach John Anderson. “We’re squeezing the sawdust out of the fiberglass stick. But there were a lot of positives this weekend. We’ll get right back at it on Wednesday.”
San Antonio (11-3-6-0) broke on top at 1:07 of the second period on Borna Rendulic’s wrist shot from the right faceoff dot. The Rampage started with an odd-man rush that didn’t pay off, but Colin Smith collected the puck behind the net and found Rendulic for a quick blast.
The Rampage extended their lead to 2-0 on Mikko Rantanen’s goal at 4:14 of the third. Joey Hishon fed the puck ahead on the rush and Rantanen delivered a snapper from the left circle.
Lindbohm pulled the Wolves within 2-1 at 8:35 with a rocket from the left point. San Antonio goaltender Calvin Pickard got a piece of the puck, but not enough to prevent it from finding the back of the net. Jordan Caron earned the assist.
The Wolves added a sixth attacker with 1:24 left in search of the tying goal, but San Antonio answered with Hishon’s empty-net goal with 1:05 to go. He launched his shot from center ice and the Wolves deflected it 15 feet into the air, but it bounced into the goal before defenseman Andre Benoit could swat it away.
Pickard (8-1-4) notched 24 saves to earn the win for the second night in a row. Binnington (6-3-1) suffered his first home loss this season.
The Wolves return to Allstate Arena at 7 p.m. Wednesday to face Manitoba and 7 p.m. Saturday to battle Milwaukee in the Amtrak Rivalry. To take advantage of the team’s Cyber Monday special, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
RAMPAGE 3, WOLVES 1
San Antonio 0 1 2 — 3
Chicago 0 0 1 — 1
First Period—None. Penalties—Veilleux, Chicago (holding), 4:12; Schmaltz, Chicago (slashing), 5:01; Rantanen, San Antonio (tripping), 8:37; Noreau, San Antonio (high-sticking, roughing), 15:50; Beach, Chicago (roughing), 15:50.
Second Period—1, San Antonio, Rendulic 4 (Smith, Rantanen), 1:07. Penalties—Zadorov, San Antonio (delay of game), 2:33; Kristo, Chicago (tripping), 7:13; San Antonio (too many men, served by Hishon), 13:59.
Third Period—2, San Antonio, Rantanen 5 (Hishon, Everberg), 4:14; 3, Chicago, Lindbohm 2 (Caron), 8:35; 4, San Antonio, Hishon 5 (Rantanen), 18:55 en. Penalties—Kristo, Chicago (slashing), 5:31; Rantanen, San Antonio (delay of game), 10:52.
Shots on goal—San Antonio 10-10-9—29; Chicago 5-9-11—25. Power plays—San Antonio 0-4; Chicago 0-5. Goalies—San Antonio, Pickard (24-25); Chicago, Binnington (26-28). Referees—Shaun Davis and Mike Mullen. Linesmen—Ryan Daisy and Dan Dineen.
