DES MOINES, Iowa – The Chicago Wolves rallied for two goals in the third period to claim a 2-1 victory over the Iowa Wild on Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena.
Right wing Eriah Hayes delivered the tiebreaking goal with 3:40 to play while Danny Kristo provided the equalizer early in the third. Goaltender Jordan Binnington stonewalled 39 of 40 shots for the Wolves (22-19-1-2) in their first game after the All-Star Break.
Iowa (13-28-3-3) opened the scoring with an improbable goal at 12:42 of the second. Center Brett Sutter fired a shot that hit the outside of the net and went below the goal line. Sutter strained to reach the rebound, banked it off the bottom of Binnington’s skate – which was pinned against the post — and the puck trickled across the net.
The Wolves knotted the score 1-1 on Kristo’s goal 2:14 into the third. The right wing skated a loop through the Wild zone, motored back into the high slot and snapped a shot through traffic for his 14th goal of the year. Jeremy Welsh and Richard Nedomlel earned assists.
Chicago took the lead for good on Hayes’ goal with 3:40 to go. Yannick Veilleux held the puck along the right half-wall and flipped it to Hayes below the goal line. Hayes carried along the goal line just beyond the right post, flipped a soft backhand off Iowa goaltender Jeremy Smith and watched it bank into the net.
Binnington (10-7-2) posted a season-high 39 saves for the win while Smith (5-14-3) stopped 20 shots.
The Wolves return to Allstate Arena at 7 p.m. Saturday to face Iowa on Military Appreciation Night, presented by Sears Home Services. To attend the game and honor our veterans and servicemen, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
WOLVES 2, WILD 1
Chicago 0 0 2 — 2
Iowa 0 1 0 — 1
First Period—None. Penalties—Doty, Chicago (high-sticking), 6:23; Bertschy, Iowa (interference), 9:34.
Second Period—1, Iowa, Sutter 3 (Schroeder, Palmquist), 12:42. Penalties—Butler, Chicago (tripping), 1:42; Hayes, Chicago (tripping), 4:55; Caron, Chicago (hooking), 19:13.
Third Period—2, Chicago, Kristo 14 (Welsh, Nedomlel), 2:14; 3, Chicago, Hayes 6 (Veilleux), 16:20. Penalties—Welsh, Chicago (cross-checking), 6:58.
Shots on goal—Chicago 4-7-11—22; Iowa 11-15-14—40. Power plays—Chicago 0-1; Iowa 0-5. Goalies—Chicago, Binnington (39-40); Iowa, Smith (20-22). Referee—Tim Mayer. Linesmen—Justin Hedlund and Nate Stanton.