ROCKFORD, Ill. – Goaltender Jordan Binnington registered his 50th AHL win as the Chicago Wolves beat the Rockford IceHogs 4-1 on Friday night in Rockford.
Wolves forward Landon Ferraro extended his goal streak to four games and forwards Kenny Agostino, Andrew Agozzino and Samuel Blais accounted for the club’s other three markers. Binnington (7-5-1) turned aside 32 shots in his milestone victory.
The Wolves (10-9-1-1) opened scoring just under six minutes into the game when Brad Hunt, Chicago’s leading scorer, purposely sent a point shot wide of the net. The puck caromed out of the left corner directly to Blais standing in the same-side circle for an easy shot.
In a scrum along the right-corner boards, Ivan Barbashev dug the puck out and dished it to Agozzino rushing into the slot to put the Wolves up by a pair at 18:02 of the first frame.
At 8:06 of the second session, Wade Megan fed Agostino, waiting near the Rockford blue line, for a breakaway chance that he tucked behind Rockford goaltender Mac Carruth (1-4-2) to extend the Wolves’ lead to three goals.
Rockford (7-11-1-2) finally got on the board at 18:12 of the second stanza. Binnington stopped the initial point shot from the IceHogs’ Tanner Kero, but Mark McNeill wrangled the rebound and chipped the puck past the Wolves netminder.
Just 36 seconds into the third period on the rush, Hunt and Megan fed Ferraro, and he found the back of the net for the 4-1 final score.
Carruth made 20 saves in the loss.
The Wolves are back in action Saturday night (Dec. 3) against the Iowa Wild at Allstate Arena for Star Wars Night. Fans are encouraged to don their best costumes, meet with characters from the Star Wars universe and take part in Jedi training.
Special Star Wars Night ticket packages that include a game ticket and a lightsaber are available online using the offer code FORCE. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
