Dunn pushes Chicago Wolves past Monsters 4-2

Rookie defenseman Vince Dunn netted the go-ahead goal midway through the third period to help the Chicago Wolves best the Cleveland Monsters 4-2 Wednesday at Allstate Arena.

In his first game since returning from the National Hockey League, left wing Magnus Paajarvi registered 2 points - including the game-tying tally. The Wolves (31-17-4-3) also welcomed back center Ivan Barbashev and forwards Kenny Agostino and Ty Rattie from the NHL.

"They're good players and they play good hockey on both sides of the puck," said Wolves head coach Craig Berube. "I thought they were engaged in the game right away and that was a good sign to me."

Cleveland (24-22-2-4) opened scoring just 1:14 into the first period when Markus Hannikainen stood on Pheonix Copley's doorstep and tapped in a pass from Alex Petan.

However, the Wolves tied the game just 1:24 later. Conner Bleackley dished the puck to Petteri Lindbohm at the blue line. Lindbohm skated to the center point and ripped a shot down the slot for the equalizing tally.

Chicago took a 2-1 lead at 11:21 of the first frame on the power play when Dunn fed a pass to Paajarvi skating into the left circle. Paajarvi leaned into a shot that whizzed over Joonas Korpisalo's left shoulder.

T.J. Tynan earned the second period's only goal at 16:42 when he carried the puck up the left wing and threw it on net. Copley (14-6-3) kicked away the initial shot, but it jetted straight into a crowd, hit a skate and boomeranged into the net to make it 2-2.

In the third session, Chicago pressured on the man advantage. Near the left boards, Paajarvi slid a pass to Dunn at the center point. Dunn lasered a shot through traffic and past Korpisalo (7-6-3) for the go-ahead goal at 10:15.

At 18:10, with Korpisalo on the bench for the Monsters, captain Chris Butler slung a shot from the defensive end wall the length of the ice for the 4-2 final score.

The Wolves continue their six-game homestead on Saturday with the first of two games against the Iowa Wild. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m.