Chicago Wolves win No. 600 for Anderson
The Chicago Wolves produced a pair of third-period goals to rally for a 2-1 victory over the Iowa Wild on Sunday in front of 12,617 at the Allstate Arena.
Forward Eriah Hayes tied the game and right wing Jacob Doty delivered the game-winner for the Wolves (9-3-1-1), who earned head coach John Anderson's 600th regular-season win with the franchise in 13-plus seasons.
"If you coach long enough, you're going to get there eventually," Anderson said. "I'm glad it turned out this way. Everybody wants to win 10-0, but this was 2-1 and a hard-fought win. It brings a little bit more character and appreciation for how hard it is to win."
The Wolves outshot Iowa 42-19, but the Wild (3-14-1-2) opened the scoring on Zack Mitchell's goal 5:25 into the second period. Christoph Bertschy lobbed a pass from the left circle toward the right post. Mitchell got his stick on the short hop and tapped the puck past Wolves goaltender Jordan Binnington.
The Wolves knotted the score at 4:05 of the third period on Hayes' first goal with the team. Yannick Veilleux outraced an Iowa defender to the puck along the back wall and knocked it free. Evan Trupp claimed the loose puck and fed it to Hayes waiting in the slot for a quick strike and a 1-1 tie.
Doty's game-winner came with 7:03 to play on another goal built on effort and a perfect pass. Defenseman Jordan Schmaltz sent a pass around the boards that Beach claimed below the goal line to the left of the net. Beach spied Doty flying down the slot and backhanded a pass that Doty one-timed home while falling to his knees.
"What we talked about today was, no matter what happens, trust the system throughout the game," Anderson said. "In the third period, I said, 'Guys, just keep doing the same things and something good with happen.' "
Binnington (6-1-1) posted 18 saves to earn the win, while Iowa goaltender Leland Irving (2-6-2) stopped 40 shots.
The Wolves travel to Rockford on Friday for an Illinois Lottery Cup clash before hosting San Antonio at 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Allstate Arena.