ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Chicago Wolves scored two goals in the final nine minutes to force overtime, but the Milwaukee Admirals prevailed with a 3-2 shootout win Saturday night in Amtrak Rivalry action at Allstate Arena. Milwaukee’s Kevin Fiala registered the only tally during the shootout. Forwards Jeremy Welsh and Jordan Caron scored for the Wolves (10-7-1-2), who outshot the Admirals 24-8 during the third period and overtime.
“I guess the truth of the matter is you’ve got to play three periods and not just 10 minutes of one,” said Wolves head coach John Anderson. “The other side of it was, we didn’t quit. We had a couple point-blank chances in overtime.”
Milwaukee (14-6-1-0) opened the scoring 10:32 into the game on Vladislav Kamenev’s power-play goal. Center Frederick Gaudreau sliced through two defensemen at the blue line and raced in on goaltender Jordan Binnington, who parried Gaudreau’s backhand flip. Kamenev was first to the rebound in the crease and tapped it home.
The Admirals took a 2-0 lead at 12:08 of the second on a swift tic-tac-toe play that ended with forward Adam Payerl’s tap-in from just outside the crease into an empty net.
The Wolves got on the board with 8:11 left on Welsh’s goal during 4-on-4 action. Defenseman Andre Benoit carried the puck below the goal line and gave it to Rattie. He skated behind the net, surveyed the scene and found Welsh cutting toward the crease from below the right circle for a quick redirect.
Chicago made it 2-2 with 4:07 to play on Caron’s power-play goal. Benoit one-timed a blast from the right point that Caron, stationed in front of Milwaukee goaltender Juuse Saros, redirected into the net.
Saros (9-2-0) stopped 37 of 39 shots during regulation and overtime. Binnington (6-3-2) posted 23 saves.
The Wolves visit Iowa at 7 p.m. Tuesday to start a four-game road trip. The team returns to Allstate Arena at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17, to face the Texas Stars. Want to own the flex pack that’s the best deal over the holidays? Visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
ADMIRALS 3, WOLVES 2 (SO)
Milwaukee 1 1 0 0 1 — 3
Chicago 0 0 2 0 0 — 2
First Period—1, Milwaukee, Kamenev 6 (Gaudreau, Gortz), 10:32 pp. Penalties—Asuchak, Chicago (hooking), 7:03; Caron, Chicago (hooking), 9:45; Girard, Milwaukee (high-sticking), 10:36; Fiala, Milwaukee (hooking), 13:16.
Second Period—2, Milwaukee, Payerl 4 (Gaudreau, Allen), 12:08. Penalties—Gortz, Milwaukee (tripping), 2:00; Gortz, Milwaukee (illegal substitution), 3:18; Asuchak, Chicago (checking to the head), 8:13; Veilleux, Chicago (cross-checking), 19:46.
Third Period—3, Chicago, Welsh 6 (Rattie, Benoit), 11:49; 4, Chicago, Caron 5 (Benoit, Harrold), 15:53 pp. Penalties—Asuchak, Chicago (slashing), 3:00; Doty, Chicago (roughing and 10-minute misconduct), 3:00; Allen, Milwaukee (roughing), 3:00; Asuchak, Chicago (slashing), 10:53; Oligny, Milwaukee (roughing), 10:53; Nakyva, Milwaukee (tripping), 15:17.
Overtime—None. Penalties—Benoit, Chicago (interference), 5:00
Shootout—Milwaukee 1 (Fiala G, Gaudreau NG, Kamenev NG); Chicago 0 (Rattie NG, Kristo NG, Barbashev NG). Shots on goal—Milwaukee 10-7-4-4-1—26; Chicago 6-9-17-7-0—39. Power plays—Milwaukee 1-5; Chicago 1-5. Goalies—Milwaukee, Saros (37-39); Chicago, Binnington (24-26). Referee—Jarrod Ragusin. Linesmen—Ryan Daisy and Ian McCambridge.
