Rampage holds on to top Chicago Wolves 3-1

Petteri Lindbohm's third-period goal pulled the Chicago Wolves within striking range, but the San Antonio Rampage answered with an empty-net goal to take a 3-1 victory Sunday at the Allstate Arena.

Lindbohm notched his second score of the season, and goaltender Jordan Binnington posted 26 saves for the Wolves (9-6-1-1), who managed 1 goal for the third night in a row.

"You saw some of the terrific plays we made earlier in the year. They're not happening now," said Wolves coach John Anderson. "We're squeezing the sawdust out of the fiberglass stick. But there were a lot of positives this weekend. We'll get right back at it on Wednesday."

San Antonio (11-3-6-0) broke on top at 1:07 of the second period on Borna Rendulic's wrist shot from the right faceoff dot. The Rampage started with an odd-man rush that didn't pay off, but Colin Smith collected the puck behind the net and found Rendulic for a quick blast.

The Rampage extended its lead to 2-0 on Mikko Rantanen's goal at 4:14 of the third. Joey Hishon fed the puck ahead on the rush and Rantanen delivered a snapper from the left circle.

Lindbohm pulled the Wolves within 2-1 at 8:35 with a rocket from the left point. San Antonio goaltender Calvin Pickard got a piece of the puck but not enough to prevent it from finding the net. Jordan Caron earned the assist.

The Wolves added a sixth attacker with 1:24 left in search of the tying goal, but San Antonio answered with Hishon's empty-netter with 1:05 to go. He launched his shot from center ice and the Wolves deflected it 15 feet into the air, but it bounced into the goal before defenseman Andre Benoit could swat it away.

Pickard (8-1-4) notched 24 saves to earn the win for the second night in a row. Binnington (6-3-1) suffered his first home loss this season.

The Wolves return to the Allstate Arena on Wednesday at 7 p.m. to face Manitoba and Saturday at 7 p.m. to battle Milwaukee in the Amtrak Rivalry.