ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Chicago Wolves picked up a crucial win as Danny Kristo and Ty Rattie scored in the shootout to lift the Wolves to a 3-2 victory over the Charlotte Checkers on Sunday afternoon at Allstate Arena.
Captain Pat Cannone scored both goals in regulation for the Wolves (24-23-3-2), who picked up a valuable point on Charlotte (26-21-3-3) in the chase for Calder Cup playoff spots.
“Every game’s close and it seems like we have to fight and claw for everything we get,” said Wolves head coach John Anderson. “I thought we’ve put a good effort in the last 4-5 games. This is a big win for us.”
The Wolves broke on top at 8:51 of the first on Cannone’s 18th goal of the year. Checkers goaltender Daniel Altshuller stopped Jordan Caron’s blast from below the left circle, but he drifted slightly out of the crease while the puck stayed near the right post. Cannone strained to tap it across the goal line ahead of a defenseman’s desperate dive.
Charlotte evened the score on Sergey Tolchinsky’s power-play goal with 1:05 left in the first period. He waited behind the Wolves’ defensemen along the blue line, accepted Trevor Carrick’s pass and skated in ahead of the pack to make it 1-1.
Cannone gave the Wolves a 2-1 lead 1:59 into the third period with a backhanded flip from just outside the crease – defenseman Jared Nightingale and right wing Danny Kristo setting the table — but Charlotte’s Patrick Brown answered with an unassisted goal 35 seconds later to forge another tie.
Charlotte’s T.J. Hensick scored first in the shootout, but Kristo and Rattie answered while goaltender Pheonix Copley rejected the Checkers’ last two attempts to spark an on-ice party for the Wolves.
Copley (12-12-2) registered 28 saves during regulation and overtime to earn the win. Altshuller (9-6-4) stopped 34 of 36 shots.
The Wolves cap their four-game home stand with an 11 a.m. School-Day Game on Tuesday versus the Grand Rapids Griffins. To find the best ticket specials, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
WOLVES 3, CHECKERS 2 (SO)
Charlotte 1 0 1 0 0 — 2
Chicago 1 0 1 0 1 — 3
First Period—1, Chicago, Cannone 18 (Caron, Vaughan), 8:51; 2, Charlotte, Tolchinsky 8 (Carrick, Murphy), 18:55 pp. Penalties—Kristo, Chicago (hooking), 6:45; Hagel, Charlotte (slashing, unsportsmanlike conduct), 9:47; Nightingale, Chicago (unsportsmanlike conduct), 9:47; Jaskin, Chicago (hooking), 14:47; Blain, Chicago (boarding), 17:49; Nightingale, Chicago (hooking), 18:55.
Second Period—None. Penalties—Hagel, Charlotte (fighting), 3:24; Nightingale, Chicago (fighting), 3:24; Lowe, Charlotte (cross-checking), 7:26; Sutter, Charlotte (slashing), 15:13.
Third Period—3, Chicago, Cannone 19 (Nightingale, Kristo), 1:59; 4, Charlotte, Brown 10 (Chelios), 2:34. Penalties—Rattie, Chicago (delay of game), 3:52; Caron, Chicago (instigating, fighting, misconduct for instigating), 14:42; Cornell, Charlotte (fighting), 14:42; Werek, Charlotte (interference), 15:49; Benoit, Chicago (high-sticking), 19:04; Tolchinsky, Charlotte (embellishment), 19:04.
Overtime—None. Penalties—None.
Shootout—Charlotte 1 (Hensick G, Tolchinsky NG, Ryan NG); Chicago 2 (Kristo G, Rattie G). Shots on goal—Charlotte 7-12-9-1-0–30; Chicago 12-9-11-5-1—37. Power plays—Charlotte 1-6; Chicago 0-4. Goalies—Charlotte, Altshuller (34-36); Chicago, Copley (28-30). Referee—Stephen Reneau. Linesmen—Riley Bowles and William Hancock.
