Wolves let lead slip away

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Chicago Wolves watched a 2-1 third period lead slip away for the third straight game as the Providence Bruins handed them a 4-3 defeat at the Dunkin' Donuts Center on Friday night.

Left wing Jordan LaVallee and defenseman Nathan Oystrick both tallied a goal and an assist for the Wolves (17-5-1-0), who are tied for second in the American Hockey League with 17 wins and lead the Western Conference with 35 points.

The Wolves took a 2-1 lead at 4:29 of the third period when LaVallee put a rebound past Bruins goaltender Andy Franck for his eighth goal of the season.

Providence (19-3-2-0) tied the score at 2-2 at the 8:59 mark when left wing Pascal Pelletier took a pass in front of the net and put a shot past sprawled out Wolves goaltender Ondrej Pavelec.

The Bruins took a 3-2 lead when Pelletier scored on a 2-on-1 rush as he flipped the puck over Pavelec's shoulder for his second goal of the night. He then pushed their lead to 4-2 just 43 seconds later when center Matt Hendricks picked up a loose puck in the Wolves' zone and made a move that beat Pavelec and put home the Bruins third goal in a span of 2:13.

Pavelec (2-2-0) stopped 23 of 27 shots in the loss.

The Wolves continue their East Coast road swing tonight at Manchester.