Stars outshine Wolves

Despite three power-play goals and the first pro goal from center Matthew Weis, the Chicago Wolves fell 7-4 to the Texas Stars on Sunday night at Allstate Arena.

Dylan Coghlan, Brandon Pirri and Reid Duke each scored a power-play goal for Chicago (10-9-2-1) while goaltender Max Lagace (4-5-1) made 27 saves in the loss.

Erik Condra led the Stars with five points while Travis Morin and Nicholas Caamano each tallied a pair of goals for Texas (10-9-1-1). Phillippe Desrosiers (1-2-0) earned the win, saving 18 of 22 shots.

“If you were to look at any bright spot, the power play did a good job for sure,” said Wolves head coach Rocky Thompson. “But the rest of the game…we’ve got to get back to the drawing board.”

Coghlan gave the Wolves momentum heading into the first intermission, tallying a power-play goal late in the frame to cut the Stars lead to 2-1. Zac Leslie received the puck at the blue line and immediately sent it cross-ice to Coghlan, who one-timed a shot right over Desrosiers’ blocker.

Trailing 4-1 in the second period, Pirri scored his 10^th of the year when he sniped a shot past Derosiers’ glove from the right side. Rookie defenseman Erik Brannstom earned his first of two assists on the goal, threading a cross-ice pass through traffic to Pirri.

Brannstrom picked up an assist on Chicago’s next goal, sending a rocket from the point toward the net. Duke pulled the shot out of the air and redirected it under Derosiers at the 3:45 mark of the third period for the Wolves’ third goal of the night on the man-advantage.

Weis closed out the game’s scoring with his first AHL goal with 1:31 remaining in the game, capitalizing on a loose puck after Coghlan’s shot from the point went wide of the net.

The Wolves hit the road for three games before returning to Allstate Arena at 7 p.m. Saturday for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Game against the Tucson Roadrunners. To find the best ticket specials, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.