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DiDomenico, IceHogs Edge Wolves in OT

Chris DiDomenico scored on the power play in overtime to give the Rockford IceHogs a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Wolves in Illinois Lottery Cup action Sunday afternoon at Allstate Arena.

Forward Teemu Pulkkinen netted Chicago’s lone goal to tie the game in the third period. Goaltender Oscar Dansk stopped 37 of 39 shots in his first loss since Oct. 7 as the Wolves battled through their third game in 47 hours.

“I give Rockford credit,” said Wolves head coach Rocky Thompson. “(Dansk) had to save four or five Grade A chances. We were up against it this weekend with the schedule. We were able to steal a point, which I’m happy with. Our guys competed as hard as I felt they could have done given the circumstances. I’m proud of their effort tonight.

After a scoreless first period, Rockford’s William Pelletier earned a penalty shot at 3:55 of the second session. Dansk (7-0-2) made the save to keep the game scoreless.

However, 2:34 later, defenseman Cody Franson converted while the teams were skating four a side to give the IceHogs (30-24-3-4) the 1-0 lead.

The Wolves tied the game with 7:08 left. After T.J. Tynan took a vicious slash that send Franson to the box, Chicago (33-19-7-2) cashed in 53 seconds into the man advantage. Defenseman Jake Bischoff lasered a shot from the center point that Pulkkinen deflected in front of the net for the 1-1 equalizer.

In the 3-on-3 overtime frame, center Brandon Pirri took a hooking penalty that set up a 4-on-3 power play for the IceHogs. With 10 seconds to go on the advantage, DiDomenico corralled the puck and stuffed it behind Dansk for the 2-1 win.

Rockford netminder Jeff Glass (11-7-2) made 23 saves for the win.

Chicago and Rockford are right back at it on Saturday, March 17, in the Wolves’ 13th franchise St. Patrick’s Day game. The contest will be the first of two games in which the Wolves wear specialty St. Patrick’s Day jerseys to benefit Easterseals Metropolitan Chicago. Game time is 7 p.m. and the contest will be televised on CW50.