Admrials edge Wolves 5-4 in overtime
MILWAUKEE - Andrew Agozzino registered 2 goals, including a short-handed tally, as the Chicago Wolves were edged 5-4 in overtime by the Milwaukee Admirals Wednesday afternoon in Amtrak Rivalry competition.
Ivan Barbashev and Magnus Paajarvi added goals while rookie forward Conner Bleackley recorded his first two professional points, both assists, for the Wolves (5-4-1-1). Goaltender Jordan Binnington (3-2-1) made 20 saves in his second consecutive start.
The Central Division-leading Admirals (7-2-0-1) struck first at 10:43 of the opening frame when Adam Payerl got behind the Chicago defense and corralled a fluttering puck in the slot for a point-blank shot on Binnington.
The Wolves had a few chances of their own, including a turnover in the Milwaukee zone that led to a quality-scoring chance by right wing Ty Rattie in the slot. However, Marek Mazanec (1-0-0) preserved his team's 1-0 lead.
Just 24 seconds into the second period on the power play, Milwaukee doubled its lead as Frederick Gaudreau deflected an Alexandre Carrier shot from the top of the crease.
Barbashev pushed his point streak to five games when he netted his team-leading sixth goal of the season on a pass from Bleackley at 7:46 of the second.
With under five minutes to go in the middle frame, Agozzino sliced through the Admirals' defense and ripped the puck up under the crossbar to tie the game at two. The tally was Agozzino's first of the season.
Agozzino recorded his second marker of the game on a short-handed 2-on-1 rush with center Alex Friesen to give the Wolves a 3-2 lead at 6:41 of the third session.
Milwaukee answered at 12:44 of the period when Kevin Fiala gathered the puck for an easy shot from near the bottom of the left circle in his first game of the season with the Admirals.
At 16:53 of the frame, the Wolves cashed in on the power play when Paajarvi walked to the middle of the left circle and lasered a shot in the top right corner to give Chicago a 4-3 lead. However, the Admirals answered just 25 seconds later when Matt White netted his fifth goal of the season.
With the man advantage early in overtime, Chicago controlled play. Upon the expiration of the power play, Alexandre Carrier rushed up the right wing and whipped a shot past through two Chicago players and past Binnington for the 5-4 final score.
Mazanec turned aside 21 Chicago shots through regulation and extra time for the victory.
The Wolves return to action Friday against the reigning Calder Cup champion Cleveland Monsters at Quicken Loans Arena. The 6 p.m. game will be shown on The U Too.