Wolves generate powerful win over Wild
The Chicago Wolves generated 3 power-play goals that spelled the difference in a 3-2 victory over the Iowa Wild on Sunday afternoon at Allstate Arena in Rosemont.
The surging Wolves (34-25-6-1) increased their winning streak to a season-high five games.
Forwards Adam Cracknell and Ty Rattie and defenseman Colton Parayko netted the power-play goals, while defenseman Brendan Bell assisted on all three. Rattie posted the primary assist on the goals he didn't score.
The Wolves started the day with just 3 power-play goals in their previous 16 games.
"I've liked the power play the last couple weeks," said Wolves coach John Anderson. "It has really been generating chances. Sometimes it's just the bounces. One bounced right back to Rattie and it went in."
Cracknell's power-play goal opened the scoring at 10:13 of the first period. The Wolves used quick passes to control the puck and wore down the Wild to the point where Cracknell skated unchallenged through the left circle before whistling a wrister over Iowa goaltender John Curry's right shoulder.
Parayko's power-play goal gave the Wolves a 2-0 lead 4:24 into the second period. Similar to Cracknell's tally, Brendan Bell and Rattie set up Parayko with room to move above the left circle. He was able to skate in toward the dot and fire over Curry's right shoulder.
The Wild (21-43-2-2), which dropped its eighth consecutive game, got on the board at 10:53 of the second on its first official shot of the frame. The Wild won a battle along the left half-wall and worked the puck into the left circle for Marc Hagel, who snapped a shot between goaltender Matt Climie's pads.
Rattie delivered his power-play goal 2:15 into the third to give the Wolves a 3-1 lead. Bell ripped a slap shot from the left point that tipped off the top of Curry's glove and dropped into the crease. Rattie won the physical scramble for the rebound and jammed it into the net.
Iowa made matters tight on Brett Sutter's goal with 8:55 to play. Climie parried a Jared Knight shot from the left circle, but Sutter wound up with the puck, drew it back toward the right faceoff dot and flung it over Climie's glove on the short side.
Climie (13-12-3) stopped 15 shots to pick up his second win in as many days as the Wolves jumped into a three-way tie for seventh place in the Western Conference. Curry (11-19-2) finished with 33 saves on 36 shots.
The Wolves travel to Toronto on Wednesday and Hamilton on Thursday before hosting the Texas Stars at 7 p.m. Saturday - with all three games crucial in the chase for Calder Cup playoff spots.