DES MOINES – Defenseman Brad Hunt registered two points (G, A) as the Chicago Wolves fell 3-2 to the Iowa Wild on Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena, which snapped the Wolves’ 12-game winning streak on Iowa’s home ice.
In his 2016-17 season debut, Wolves defenseman Jordan Schmaltz netted his first goal of the season, but Wild wing Alex Tuch’s two goals helped propel Iowa (6-9-0-1) past the Wolves (5-7-1-1).
Chicago goaltender Jordan Binnington (3-4-1) turned aside 30 shots in the loss while Iowa netminder Alex Stalock (2-5-0) stopped 21 of 23 shots.
The Wild struck first at 14:24 of the opening period when Tuch blew by a Wolves defenseman and put the puck up under the crossbar. Iowa doubled its lead about four minutes later as Jeff Hoggan accepted a cross-slot pass from Teemu Pulkkinen for an easy tap-in.
In the second period, the Wild extended their lead to 3-0 just past the midway point when Tuch netted his second marker of the game. He floated down the slot and chipped a pass from Christoph Bertschy up and over Binnington at 10:49.
However, the Wolves began gaining momentum in the latter half of the frame; the puck squirted free from a scrum in the left corner and slid directly to Hunt skating into the slot for an easy one-timer to get the Wolves on the board at 15:47.
At 7:23 of the third stanza on the power play, wing Kenny Agostino fed Schmaltz at the top of the left circle for a laser wrist shot that found its way past Stalock to make it 3-2.
Late in the third while Chicago was on the penalty kill, Alex Friesen, standing in the Wolves slot, poked the puck ahead to Bryce Gervais for a near breakaway chance. Gervais could not shake the Wild defense for a clean chance.
With Binnington pulled in the final minute of play, the Wolves could not convert and defenseman Morgan Ellis blocked two empty-net attempts by the Wild for the 3-2 final.
The squads square off Saturday (Nov. 19) at Allstate Arena in the Wolves’ first home game since Oct. 30. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m for Salute to Military Families Night, presented by Illinois Lottery Veterans Cash Ticket. For complete game and broadcast schedules or to purchase tickets, visit ChicagoWolves.com.
