ROSEMONT, Ill. – Chicago Wolves goaltender Jordan Binnington registered 35 saves, but the Rockford IceHogs recorded a late power-play goal to claim a 1-0 victory Wednesday night in an Illinois Lottery Cup clash at Allstate Arena. Right wing Ryan Haggerty scored with 5:58 left to give Rockford the victory and a 7-5 advantage in the teams’ 12-game series this season.
“Our goalie played great and gave us a great chance to win,” said Wolves head coach John Anderson. “One shot. That’s it. I thought we competed. They were just a little quicker than us to pucks. But ‘Binny’ played well enough to give us a chance.”
The Wolves (30-31-5-3) peppered Rockford goaltender Mac Carruth with 12 shots in the opening 10 minutes, but the hosts finished with 23 shots as Carruth (2-3-1) picked up his second American Hockey League shutout.
Rockford (36-19-5-4) snapped the scoreless tie on the game’s eighth and final power-play opportunity. Vinnie Hinostroza fed Haggerty the puck in the slot and he gathered himself to lift a hard wrister over Binnington’s blocker.
Binnington (16-15-5) maintained a recent hot streak that finds him with a 4-2-0 record, 2.35 goals-against average and .930 save percentage in his last 6 games.
The Wolves host the Lake Erie Monsters at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday to cap their Spring Break homestand. Saturday’s game is Marvel Superhero Night, which features a special pregame experience with Captain America and Spider-Man. To find the best ticket deals, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
ICEHOGS 1, WOLVES 0
Rockford 0 0 1 — 1
Chicago 0 0 0 — 0
First Period—None. Penalties—None.
Second Period—None. Penalties—Walters, Rockford (hooking), 7:16; Nightingale, Chicago (holding), 10:24; Hinostroza, Rockford (high-sticking), 13:06; Rattie, Chicago (roughing), 16:46.
Third Period—1, Rockford, Haggerty 8 (Hinostroza, Pokka), 14:02 pp. Penalties—Pokka, Rockford (boarding), 1:32; Caron, Chicago (interference), 2:33; Nightingale, Chicago (holding), 7:53; Benoit, Chicago (high-sticking), 12:35; Binnington, Chicago (roughing, served by Caron), 15:16; Walters, Rockford (unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:16.
Shots on goal—Rockford 13-15-8—36; Chicago 12-6-5—23. Power plays—Rockford 1-5; Chicago 0-3. Goalies—Rockford, Carruth (23-23); Chicago, Binnington (35-36). Referees—Pierre Lambert and Stephen Reneau. Linesmen—Ryan Daisy and William Hancock.
