3 power-play goals doom Wolves in loss

Playing their first game in eight days, the Chicago Wolves surrendered three power-play goals to the Adirondack Flames in a 4-1 loss Wednesday afternoon before 13,690 fans at Allstate Arena.

Center Colin Fraser scored for the Wolves (14-10-3-0) while goaltender Jordan Binnington (7-4-1) stopped 21 shots. Flames goaltender Joni Ortio posted 30 saves to earn the win.

"One of my old coaches said the hardest thing to do in hockey is score," said Wolves head coach John Anderson. "It's getting a little frustrating. We had a couple wide-open nets in the first period and we don't score."

Adirondack (18-10-1-0) broke on top with Garnet Hathaway's power-play goal at 16:32 of the first period. Ryan Culkin launched a slap shot just inside the blue line and Hathaway tapped in the rebound.

The Flames boosted their lead to 2-0 at 4:24 of the third period when Emile Poirier intercepted a defenseman-to-defenseman pass at the blue line, skated in ahead of the pack and slipped a backhand flip past Binnington.

The Wolves answered 57 seconds later with Fraser's fifth goal of the season. Forward Rob Bordson raced down the right side and attempted a shot that Ortio (14-5-1) kicked into the slot. Fraser swooped in and deposited the rebound at 5:21. Bordson and Jani Hakanpaa earned assists on the play.

Adirondack defenseman Mark Cundari, who helped the Wolves capture the AHL's Midwest Division title last season, pushed the Flames' margin to 3-1 at 9:25 with a power-play goal when the visitors owned a two-man advantage. Poirier added an insurance power-play goal at 16:50.

The Wolves host the Grand Rapids Griffins at 7 p.m. Saturday in the first of five games at Allstate Arena over the holiday break.