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Early Iowa flurry chills Wolves

February 6, 2016

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Iowa Wild scored four goals in the first period to set up a 5-1 victory over the Chicago Wolves on Saturday night at Allstate Arena. Defenseman Chris Butler scored on Military Appreciation Night for the Wolves (22-20-1-2), who split their home-and-home weekend series with the Wild (14-28-3-3).

“We brought our ‘B’ game (Friday) night and were fortunate enough to win,” said Wolves head coach John Anderson. “Tonight we did the same thing and you saw what happened. The first period, it was all over. I know we’re much better than that.”

For the second night in a row, Iowa’s Brett Sutter opened the scoring. Left wing Brett Bulmer drilled a shot from the top of the right circle that Wolves goaltender Jordan Binnington parried to his right, but Sutter one-timed the rebound into the net at 11:50 of the first.

Defenseman Zach Palmquist gave the Wild a 2-0 lead at 14:19 of the first when he wristed a shot from the right point that rose through traffic and found a home in the top of the net.

Fifty seconds later, Iowa’s Grayson Downing backhanded a shot from the slot to push Iowa’s margin to 3-0 and prompt Anderson to send in backup goaltender Niklas Lundstrom. Former Wolves forward Rob Bordson scored at 17:47 to give the Wild a 4-0 lead at first intermission.

The Wolves got on the board with Butler’s power-play blast with 29 seconds left in the second period. Danny Kristo and Jordan Schmaltz worked the puck around to the top of the right circle for Butler, who uncorked a slap shot that beat Iowa goaltender Steven Michalek’s blocker.

Christoph Bertschy added an empty-net goal for Iowa with 39 seconds to play.

Michalek (2-0-0) posted 36 saves to earn the win. Binnington (10-8-2) notched 7 saves to take the loss while Lundstrom rejected 12 of 13 shots.

The Wolves head out on a four-game road trip that begins Tuesday at Lake Erie. The team returns home on Thursday, Feb. 18, to face the Iowa Wild. To find the best ticket specials, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.

WOLVES 5, WILD 1

Iowa 4 0 1 — 5

Chicago 0 1 0 — 1

First Period—1, Iowa, Sutter 4 (Bulmer, Keranen), 11:50; 2, Iowa, Palmquist 3 (Mitchell, Beck), 14:19; 3, Iowa, Downing 13 (Hagel), 15:09; 4, Iowa, Bordson 5 (Strachan, Reilly), 17:47. Penalties—Kristo, Chicago (interference), 1:37; Lindbohm, Chicago (roughing), 1:37; Keranen, Iowa (roughing), 1:37; Finley, Iowa (roughing double-minor), 6:33; Hayes, Chicago (roughing), 6:33; Doty, Chicago (fighting), 16:37; Finley, Iowa (fighting), 16:37; Hagel, Iowa (hooking), 18:37.

Second Period—5, Chicago, Butler 3 (Schmaltz, Kristo), 19:31 pp. Penalties—Finley, Iowa (fighting, game misconduct), 4:12; Vaughan, Chicago (fighting), 4:12; Iowa (too many men, served by Gabriel), 4:12; Bertschy, Iowa (goaltender interference), 6:40; Doty, Chicago (roughing), 10:51; Labbe, Iowa (hooking), 18:06.

Third Period—6, Iowa, Bertschy 8 (Keranen, Palmquist), 19:21 en. Penalties—Butler, Chicago (cross-checking), 8:15; Sutter, Iowa (closing hand on puck), 14:10.

Shots on goal—Iowa 11-5-8—24; Chicago 11-16-10—37. Power plays—Iowa 0-3; Chicago 1-6. Goalies—Iowa, Michalek (36-37); Chicago, Binnington (7-10), replaced at 15:09 by Lundstrom (12-13). Referee—Tim Mayer. Linesmen—Peter Cichy and Ryan Daisy.