MILWAUKEE – A pair of late third-period goals – just 12 seconds apart – lifted the Milwaukee Admirals over the Chicago Wolves 4-3 Saturday night at UWM Panther Arena.
The Wolves (28-17-3-3) trailed twice in the contest before gaining a lead near the midway point of the third period. However, Milwaukee (27-16-3-2) received goals from Adam Payerl and Vladislav Kamenev 12 seconds apart in the final five minutes of play to sink the Wolves.
Chicago almost struck first when center Alex Friesen rang a shot off the post that was declared a goal on the ice, but it was overturned after review. Shortly after at 12:56 of the first frame, the Admirals cashed in first when Anthony Richard snapped a chance over Wolves goaltender Pheonix Copley’s shoulder for the 1-0 lead.
At 9:32 of the second period, Wolves rookie wing Samuel Blais slipped the puck past Milwaukee goaltender Marek Mazanec (13-11-2) to knot the game 1-1.
The Admirals retook the lead in the opening seven minutes of the third session, capitalizing on the rush when Kamenev fed a cross-slot chance to Payerl and he backhand-redirected the puck past Copley (12-6-3).
Chicago again tied the game at 9:47 when Mazanec attempted to the clear the puck and instead hit Wolves left wing Brett Sterling near the bottom of the right circle. The puck ricocheted off Sterling and right to Andrew Agozzino near the opposite circle. Agozzino saucered a pass to a trailing Ty Loney for his second goal in as many games.
Just 1:19 later, veteran NHL defenseman James Wisniewski rocketed a point shot that pinballed off both posts and into the cage for the 3-2 lead and his first tally as a Wolves player.
Sterling took a slashing penalty at 14:53 and with eight seconds left on the man advantage for Milwaukee, Kamenev blasted a shot from near the top of the right circle and hit twine to tie the game 3-3 at 16:45.
Twelve seconds later, the Admirals jumped back in the lead when Kamenev passed the puck from behind the Wolves net to Payerl standing out front of an easy chip-in.
Copley went to the bench with 1:23 left on the clock but Chicago could net convert with the extra attacker.
Milwaukee’s Mazanec made 29 saves for the victory while Copley turned aside 23 shots in the loss.
The Wolves wrap up a 3-in-3 weekend Sunday at Allstate Arena with a contest against the San Antonio Rampage. The game begins at 3 p.m. and will be aired on CW50. Prior to puck drop, the Chicago Cubs’ World Series trophy will be on display. The Southwest doors open at 1:30 – 30 minutes earlier than normal – for the occasion. For ticket information or complete 2016-17 game and broadcast schedules, visit ChicagoWolves.com.
