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Brooks Macek delivered his league-leading 13th and 14th goals, but the Chicago Wolves dropped a 4-3 decision to the Rockford IceHogs in Illinois Lottery Cup action on Saturday night at Allstate Arena.
Macek’s first goal came with four seconds left in the first period to tie the game 1-1, but the IceHogs’ Lucas Carlsson and Darren Raddysh scored early in the second period to send the Wolves (8-4-0-1) to their first regulation loss at home this season. Rockford (8-4-1-2) posted two power-play goals in the win.
“I think the biggest thing is our (lack of) discipline throughout a game,” said Wolves head coach Rocky Thompson. “I really, truly believe that when we play the game 5-on-5, we’re going to be put on the power play because we play hard.”
Rockford opened the scoring at 15:15 of the first when forward Justin Auger collected the puck at the bottom of the right circle and flicked it past Oscar Dansk.
The Wolves evened things with four seconds left in the first when Daniel Carr blistered a shot from the right circle. The rebound went off Rockford goalie Collin Delia directly to the slot for Macek, who fired it home for his 13th goal in as many games.
Carlsson and Raddysh (PPG) scored their goals in the first three minutes of the second period. Dylan Sikura’s power-play goal pushed Rockford’s lead to 4-1 at 10:55 of the second, but Kolesar answered by knocking home the rebound of a Pirri shot with 6:29 left in the second.
Thompson pulled Dansk in the final minutes and Macek came through in a big group around the net to pull the Wolves within 4-3 with 22 seconds left. Pirri earned his third assist on the play. The Wolves had two more chances before the final horn, but couldn’t find the equalizer.
Collin Delia (5-2-2) posted 37 saves to earn the win while Dansk (5-2-1) stopped 19 shots.
The Wolves stay home to meet the Milwaukee Admirals at 3 p.m. Sunday as part of Military Appreciation Weekend.
