Chicago Wolves net a win against Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa - The Chicago Wolves rallied for 2 goals in the third period to claim a 2-1 victory over the Iowa Wild on Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena.
Right wing Eriah Hayes delivered the tiebreaking goal with 3:40 to play while Danny Kristo provided the equalizer early in the third. Goaltender Jordan Binnington stonewalled 39 of 40 shots for the Wolves (22-19-1-2) in their first game after the All-Star Break.
Iowa (13-28-3-3) opened the scoring with an improbable goal at 12:42 of the second. Center Brett Sutter fired a shot that hit the outside of the net and went below the goal line. Sutter strained to reach the rebound, banked it off the bottom of Binnington's skate - which was pinned against the post - and the puck trickled across the net.
The Wolves knotted the score 1-1 on Kristo's goal 2:14 into the third. The right wing skated a loop through the Wild zone, motored back into the high slot and snapped a shot through traffic for his 14th goal of the year. Jeremy Welsh and Richard Nedomlel earned assists.
Chicago took the lead for good on Hayes' goal with 3:40 to go. Yannick Veilleux held the puck along the right half-wall and flipped it to Hayes below the goal line. Hayes carried along the goal line just beyond the right post, flipped a soft backhand off Iowa goaltender Jeremy Smith and watched it bank into the net.
Binnington (10-7-2) posted a season-high 39 saves for the win while Smith (5-14-3) stopped 20 shots.
The Wolves return to Allstate Arena at 7 p.m. Saturday to face Iowa on Military Appreciation Night.