CLEVELAND – For the second night in a row, Chicago couldn’t muster enough offense in falling to Lake Erie, 2-1, at Quicken Loans Arena. The Wolves lost their seventh-consecutive game at Quicken Loans Arena (all by one goal) as they dropped a two-game series in Cleveland. Ivan Barbashev scored the Wolves’ lone goal, his fifth of the season, as Chicago (11-9-1-2) went 0-for-4 on the power play. Coach John Anderson pulled goaltender Pheonix Copley in favor of an extra skater late in the third, but the Wolves could not find the equalizer.
Lake Erie (15-6-1-2) opened scoring with just 47 seconds left in the first period when Oliver Bjorkstrand lifted a shot from the slot for his first tally of the season.
Daniel Zarr gave Lake Erie a two-goal lead at the 3:33 mark of the second period, stealing the puck along the boards and scoring on a wrister from the right faceoff dot for his team-leading seventh goal of the year.
Barbashev pulled Chicago within a goal when he accepted a pass from Yannick Veilleux and buried a shot top shelf at 12:57 of the second period.
Copley (5-5-1) made 23 saves in his first game against the Monsters. Lake Erie’s Anton Forsberg (10-2-1) finished with 23 saves as well to remain undefeated at home (7-0-0).
The Wolves return to Allstate Arena this Thursday, Dec. 17, for an 11 a.m. School-Day Game against the Texas Stars. Looking for a great deal for the holidays? Grab the Howliday Flex Pack by visiting ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
MONSTERS 2, WOLVES 1
Chicago 0 1 0 — 1
Lake Erie 1 1 0 — 2
First Period—1, Bjorkstrand 1 (Vogelhuber, Falk), 19:13.
Penalties—Falk, Lake Erie (interference), 3:35; Sifers, Lake Erie (cross-checking), 8:39.
Second Period—2, Zaar, Lake Erie 7 (unassisted), 3:33; 3, Barbashev 5 (Veilleux, Vaughan), 12:57.
Penalties—Chicago, Butler (tripping), 0:58; Chicago, Veilleux (slashing), 8:24; Lake Erie, Paliotta (tripping, 10:41); Chicago, Butler (cross-checking), 19:03; Lake Erie, Tynan (high-sticking), 19:03; Lake Erie, Anderson (roughing), 19:36.
Third Period—none.
Penalties—none.
Shots on goal—Chicago 6-9-9—24; Lake Erie 13-5-7—25. Power plays—Chicago 0-4; Lake Erie 0-2. Goalies—Chicago, Copley (23-25); Lake Erie, Forsberg (23-24). Referees—Ryan Hersey and Pierre Lambert. Linesmen—Devin Berg and Shaun Morgan.
