Rochester beats Wolves, evens series

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Chicago Wolves couldn't recreate their late-game magic from 24 hours earlier, falling 3-2 to Rochester in Game 2 of their American Hockey League Western Conference quarterfinal series at Blue Cross Arena on Saturday.

Wolves forward Nathan Longpre scored in the first period and center Keith Aucoin added a 5-on-3 power-play goal in the third. Wolves goaltender Jake Allen (1-1) stopped 28 shots as Rochester evened the best-of-five series. Game 3 is Thursday at 7 p.m. Allstate Arena in Rosemont, with Game 4 at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The Wolves opened the scoring at 18:45 of the first period. Defenseman Brent Regner took a hit at the blue line to keep the puck in the offensive zone for Dmitrij Jaskin to continue. The left wing sent a short pass to Longpre, who wristed it through traffic from the slot for a 1-0 lead.

Rochester applied plenty of pressure in the second period, and Americans knotted the score at 1-1 on a goal from left wing Colton Gillies. Allen kicked out a shot but lost track of the puck in a crowded crease, allowing Gillies to sneak in and bury the rebound at 6:14.

The Americans took the lead at 10:37. After a Wolves clearing attempt was intercepted, Americans defenseman Chad Ruhwedel pinched into the zone to score on Gillies' pass from behind the net to make it 2-1.

The Americans extended their lead with a power-play goal early in the final period when a shot from the point hit traffic in front. Allen made the save, but left wing Luke Adam swooped in to clean up the rebound at 4:07.

Aucoin cashed in on a two-man-advantage at 16:38, beating goaltender Andrey Makarov as the Wolves swarmed the crease. Jaskin and Ty Rattie earned assists.

Makarov (1-1) kicked out 26 shots, including a flurry in the final minute, to earn his first postseason win.

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