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Wolves rally late, win in shootout

The Chicago Wolves scored with 17.6 seconds left to tie the game in regulation and went 3-for-4 in the shootout to defeat the Oklahoma City Barons 5-4 on Sunday at the Allstate Arena.

Right wing Ty Rattie scored both of the Wolves’ third-period goals, and left wings Sergey Andronov and Chris Porter also scored as Chicago (11-10-0-2) rallied twice to win in extra time. Goaltender Matt Climie (2-4-0) had 23 saves and stopped all three Barons shootout attempts to earn the win.

“I thought we controlled the third with a big push early, but then we relinquished it right back,” Wolves coach John Anderson said. “But it was nice to be able to tie it with an empty-net goal and win it in the shootout.”

Oklahoma City (10-12-0-4) opened scoring in the first period with Linus Omark’s power-play goal at 8:16. The lead did not last long as the Wolves came roaring back with 2 goals of their own within minutes of each other.

Chicago got on the board shortly after an expired power play with Andronov denting the net at 11:55. Andronov picked up the puck on the right wall just above the faceoff circle and sent a high shot on net that Barons goaltender Ty Rimmer (1-0-1) could not glove in time.

Porter increased Chicago’s lead while 4-on-4, sparking the play with a slick backhand clear out of his own zone. Center Corey Locke chased the puck deep in the corner and sent a pass back to Porter, who moved in on the Oklahoma City net and beat Rimmer on a shot the goalie tipped but did not stop.

With less than a minute left in the period, Oklahoma City found the equalizer as Omark picked up his second tally of the evening. The Barons reclaimed the lead at 12:10 of the second period with Roman Horak’s power-play marker.

After sustained pressure in the offensive zone, Rattie brought the score back to even at 13:20 of the third. Defenseman Brent Regner took a shot from the bottom of the right faceoff circle that bobbled in the air in front of the net and Rattie fought through traffic to tip it past Rimmer’s glove.

The Barons waited less than three minutes to take the lead again as left wing Ryan Hamilton skated the puck down the ice, deked around Wolves defenders and snapped a quick shot top-shelf.

With Climie pulled for an extra attacker and seconds left in the game, Chicago pulled even yet again. With a scrum amassing in front of the net, Rimmer lost sight of the puck as it was poked loose in the crease. Rattie muscled off a Barons player to sweep the puck behind Rimmer and tie the game with 17.6 seconds on the clock.

Rattie, Shane Harper, and Dmitrij Jaskin scored in the shootout and Climie stonewalled all three Barons shooters to complete the comeback. Rimmer made 34 stops on the night and one of four in the shootout for the loss.

The Wolves hit the road for a 6 p.m. game Wednesday at division-rival Grand Rapids. The team returns to the Allstate Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 18, for an 11 a.m. School-Day Game against Hamilton.

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