Wolves fall 2-1 to Rockford
The Chicago Wolves could only muster 1 goal and allowed 2 power-play strikes as the Rockford IceHogs earned a 2-1 Illinois Lottery Cup contest Sunday at the Allstate Arena.
Defenseman Kevin Connauton scored the Wolves’ goal, and goaltender Matt Climie stopped 28 shots. The Wolves have lost five of their last six games.
“We weren’t ready to go tonight,” Wolves coach Scott Arniel said. “We can’t take 4 minor penalties in the first and expect to get the start we want.”
Rockford (32-28-1-1) opened the scoring with just one second remaining in the opening period. Left wing Jeremy Morin whipped an across-ice pass to center Martin St. Pierre, who beat the clock and Climie (16-18-3) from the near circle at 19:59.
Chicago (29-21-5-4) drew even with the IceHogs when Connauton’s blast from the near point snuck past Rockford goaltender Henrik Karlsson at 8:01 of the second period.
Karlsson (6-3-0) stopped 19 shots.
The IceHogs scored the game-winner with a power-play goal at 14:26 of the middle period. Morin jumped on a loose puck, and his shot hit off Climie’s leg pads, then trickled over the goal line.
The Wolves will look to snap a three-game winless streak when they host the Toronto Marlies at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Allstate Arena.