Wolves edge Toronto

The Chicago Wolves used 3 consecutive goals in the second period to put themselves in front and then never looked back, dropping the North Division-leading Toronto Marlies 5-4 in front of 9,118 on Saturday night at the Allstate Arena.

The Wolves (28-9-1-0) lead the Western Conference with 57 points and rank second overall in the American Hockey League. Toronto (25-9-0-4) entered the game 1 point behind the Wolves for the top spot in the conference.

Rookie center Bryan Little cranked out a career-high 4-point night (goal, 3 assists), while right wings Joey Crabb (2 assists) and Jesse Schultz (goal, assist) and center Alexandre Giroux (goal, assist) also contributed.

"Our line played really well tonight. It seemed that every shift the bounces were going our way," Little said. "A game like tonight gives me a lot of confidence. I feel like I've been fighting the puck a lot lately. It all seemed to change tonight."

Defenseman Brian Fahey locked up the game for the Wolves when he cranked a shot through Marlies goaltender Scott Clemmensen at 12:02 of the final period to make it 5-3.

Toronto defenseman Jay Harrison fired a quick wrist shot through traffic to keep the Marlies in the game at 5-4, but Wolves goalie Ondrej Pavelec shut the door for the remaining 3:32 to collect his 11th victory in his last 12 appearances.