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Wolves rally to sink Admirals in shootout

MILWAUKEE — The Chicago Wolves faced a 2-goal deficit twice, but rallied in the third period to force extra time and went on to edge the Milwaukee Admirals 4-3 in a shootout Sunday in an Amtrak Rivalry game at the Bradley Center.

Forward Nathan Longpre kicked things off with a shorthanded goal in the second period, while center Keith Aucoin and defenseman Cade Fairchild scored in the final frame to get the Wolves (27-16-3-2) to extra time. Right wing Sebastian Wannstrom and center Adam Cracknell were successful in the shootout, while goalie Jake Allen stopped all 4 of Milwaukee’s attempts to complete the comeback.

Despite plenty of Wolves scoring chances in the first period, the Admirals (22-14-6-5) got on the board first 10:40 into the game. Left wing Miikka Salomaki skated 1-on-1 into the offensive zone. Allen made the save on the original shot, but Salomaki found the rebound and chipped it into the net.

The Admirals added a power-play goal early in the second period. Goaltender Marek Mazanec sent a long pass to right wing Filip Forsberg, who carried the puck into the Wolves’ zone. Forsberg sent a pass to right wing Patrick Cehlin at the other side of the net for the top-corner tap-in at 0:55.

With time winding down in the middle period and the Wolves on the penalty kill, they cut the deficit in half with a shorthanded goal. Longpre flew into the Admirals’ zone and got behind the defense, accepting a pass from defenseman Taylor Chorney for the quick redirect past Mazanec at 17:31.

Left wing Kevin Henderson regained the Admirals’ 2-goal cushion three minutes into the final period. After a faceoff win, the Admirals cycled the puck down low and fired a flurry of shots on goal. Henderson crashed the net and found a rebound, releasing a low shot that snuck under Allen’s outstretched pad.

The Wolves got within a goal 52 seconds later when Aucoin converted a penalty shot. He deked to get Mazanec to open up, maneuvering around the goaltender’s stick and slipping in the puck to make the score 3-2.

The Wolves tied the game at 3-3 with 12:34 left when Fairchild roofed the puck over a tumbling Mazanec. Right wing Sebastian Wannstrom left a drop pass for center Christian Hanson on a rush. Hanson fed a pass to a pinching Fairchild at the net for the equalizer.

Allen (20-11-2) kicked out 24 shots in regulation and overtime. Mazanec (9-4-3) turned away 31 shots and 3 attempts in the shootout.

The Wolves return from the AHL all-star break with an Illinois Lottery Cup contest at 7 p.m. Friday at Rockford. The Wolves host Milwaukee on Saturday in an Amtrak Rivalry contest at 7 p.m. at Allstate Arena.

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