Admirals edge Wolves in overtime

Anthony Bitetto's goal with 29 seconds left in overtime lifted the Milwaukee Admirals to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Wolves in a battle of Midwest Division powers Friday night at Allstate Arena in Rosemont.

The game-winning goal came during the Wolves' first encounter with the American Hockey League's new overtime wrinkle, which calls for 3-on-3 action after the first stoppage with four minutes or less to play.

Forwards Ty Rattie and Jeremy Welsh scored for the Wolves (3-0-2-0) in the Amtrak Rivalry contest, and goaltender Matt Climie (3-0-1) rejected 18 shots.

"We had just as many chances in overtime as them. It made it exciting for the fans," said Wolves coach John Anderson. "A tight game as usual with Milwaukee. It's going to be a great rivalry."

The Admirals (5-0-0-0) opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 5:52 of the first period. The Wolves staved off an extended Admirals possession in the zone until Miika Salomaki's cross-ice pass found right wing Pontus Aberg open for a quick blast from the left faceoff dot with 11 seconds remaining with the man advantage.

The Wolves evened the score at 2:38 of the second period on Rattie's third goal of the season. The Wolves forced a turnover in the neutral zone and Terry Broadhurst fed the puck ahead to Rattie for a breakaway against goaltender Marek Mazanec (5-0-0, 26 saves). Rattie faked a forehand wrister before tapping a backhander between Mazanec's pads as Broadhurst and Brent Regner earned assists.

The Admirals regained the lead at 3:43 of the third when the Wolves couldn't clear the puck out of their defensive zone. Brendan Leipsic controlled it below the goal line and dished it to Austin Watson just outside the crease. Watson zipped it past Climie for his fourth goal of the year.

The Wolves needed just over three minutes to tie the score at 2-2 when they gained control in their end. Sebastian Wannstrom steered a pass to Welsh at the red line, and he raced around a defenseman along the right boards and wristed home a shot from the right circle.

After the Wolves' Shane Harper had a go-ahead goal waved off with less than five minutes to go in regulation when the officials declared goaltender interference, Admirals defenseman Bitetto delivered the overtime game-winner.

The Wolves visit Rockford today at 7 p.m. for an Illinois Lottery Cup clash.