ROCKFORD, Ill. –Chicago made the most of its last visit to Rockford this season, producing a 4-3 overtime victory in an Illinois Lottery Cup game from the MetroCentre. The victory completed a weekend sweep for the Wolves over the IceHogs.
Danny Kristo scored his team-leading 21st goal of the season 42 seconds into the extra period to give the Wolves their first win of the season at the MetroCenter. It marked the fourth time this season Kristo has won a game in overtime. Chicago was just seconds away from victory in regulation, before Rockford scored an extra attacker goal on a Bryan Bickell backhander with nine seconds left on the clock.
For the second straight night, Jordan Binnington played stellar in goal for the Wolves, making 30 saves. Rookies Emerson Clark and Jordan Schmaltz scored goals as did defenseman Hubert Labrie, who saw his defensive partner Jared Nightingale chipped in with two assists. Captain Pat Cannone recorded a pair of assists as well.
Chicago (28-28-5-3) opened scoring on Clark’s goal at 10:59 of the second period – a wrist shot between the circles that beat Rockford goaltender Drew MacIntyre low blocker side.
Rockford (34-17-8-4) pulled even just before the period ended with some puck luck when Vinnie Hinostroza’s shot deflected off a Wolves defenseman’s skate into the goal.
Schmaltz gave Chicago a 2-1 lead just 25 seconds into the third period as his slap shot from inside the right circle trickled between the pads of MacIntyre. Rockford answered at the 2:56 mark on the power play when Hinostroza drove into the slot, then dished a pass to Mark McNeill, who buried his team-leading 21st goal on a one-timer.
Labrie gave Chicago its third lead of the night at 3-2, skating to a loose puck in the Rockford zone and ripping a shot into the net at the 6:32 mark. It was Labrie’s first point since joining the team in a trade two weeks ago.
MacIntyre (13-14-2) finished with 21 saves for Rockford.
The Wolves return to Allstate Arena tomorrow for a 3 p.m. faceoff against the Milwaukee Admirals in an Amtrak Rivalry game. To find the best ticket deals, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
WOLVES 4, ICEHOGS 3
Chicago 0 1 2 1 – 4
Rockford 0 1 2 0 – 3
First Period—none. Penalties—Trupp, Chicago (high sticking), 2:56; Phillips, Chicago (tripping), Nightingale, Chicago (roughing, roughing), 17:42; Liambas, Rockford (charging), 17:42.
Second Period—1, Chicago, Clark 2 (Nightingale, Barbashev), 10:59; 2, Rockford, Hinostroza 14 (Labrie, Carlsson), 18:32. Penalties—Vaileau, Rockford (holding), 1:50; Doty, Chicago (roughing), 15:48; Nightingale, Chicago (roughing), 15:48; DeSousa, Rockford (roughing), 15:48; Liambas, Rockford (misconduct), 15:58.
Third Period—3, Chicago, Schmaltz 5 (Welsh), 0:25; 4, Rockford, McNeill 21 (Hinostroza, Pokka), 2:56, pp; 5, Chicago, Labrie 1 (Nightingale, Cannone), 6:32; 6, Rockford, Bickell 14 (Hartman), 19:51. Penalties—Veilleux, Chicago (elbowing) 2:05; Hartman, Rockford (tripping), 15:04.
Overtime—7, Chicago, Kristo 21 (Cannone, Harrold), 0:42. Penalties—none.
Shots on goal—Chicago 7-10-7-1—25; Rockford 12-6-15-0—33. Power plays—Chicago 0-2; Rockford 1-5. Goalies—Chicago, Binnington (30-33); Rockford, MacIntyre (21-25). Referee—Chris Schlenker and David Banfield. Linesmen—Mike Anderson and Ian McCambridge.
