ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Chicago Wolves lost 3-2 to their in-state rival, the Rockford IceHogs, on Friday night in Rockford during Illinois Lottery Cup action.
Left wing Magnus Paajarvi returned to the Wolves for the first time since Nov. 1, 2015, and the 25-year-old netted his first goal of the season. Goaltender Jordan Binnington kept his team in the game and stopped 34 of 37 shots he faced.
The teams traded chances throughout the entire opening period until Spencer Abbott wrangled a rebound off a skate and lasered a shot past Binnington with less than one second to go in the frame.
The IceHogs’ lead didn’t stand long; 1:51 in the second period Kenny Agostino split the Rockford defense and backhanded the puck past goaltender Lars Johansson to knot the game at one.
The clubs continued to exchange offensive flurries littered with quality scoring chances throughout the first half of the second period. Rockford broke through first with a short-handed tally at 9:18. Less than two minutes later, just as a 5-on-3 was expiring, Paajarvi netted his first goal of the season with help from Agostino and Brad Hunt.
Rockford answered again with less than three minutes to play in the middle frame. This time, Jake Dowell redirected a point shot to put the IceHogs back on top 3-2.
The end-to-end action continued through the third period but neither squad could convert, finishing the game 3-2 in the IceHogs’ favor.
The teams return to Illinois Lottery Cup contention on Saturday (Oct. 29) at Allstate Arena in Rosemont. The Wolves will host their annual Breast Cancer Awareness Night benefiting A Silver Lining Foundation and Chicago Wolves Charities. Fans are encouraged to wear pink as a sign of solidarity for those affected by the all-too-common disease. For more information, visit ChicagoWolves.com.
