Wolves drop playoff opener
Nobody said this was going to be a skate in the park for the Chicago Wolves.
And it wasn't for the Western Conference champion Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Admirals in Game 1 of the American Hockey League's Calder Cup playoffs.
The Wolves let a 3-1 third-period lead slip away and lost 4-3 in overtime at Allstate Arena.
Cal O'Reilly got the winner when Alex Henry's point shot deflected off his skate past Wolves goalie Ondrej Pavelec.
The Wolves had no beef with that goal, but they did question Milwaukee's tying score by Josh Langfeld -- his third of the night -- with 6:56 to play.
Pavelec and Wolves coach John Anderson questioned why there was no whistle from referee Shaun Davis after Langfeld barreled into the goalie.
A quick whistle by Davis wiped out an apparent goal by the Wolves' Joel Kwiatkowski at 7:44 of the third period that would have given Chicago a 4-2 lead.
"That (third) goal wasn't any different that the one they called back from our side," Anderson said. "All I want is a level playing field, it's very simple. I didn't have a problem with all the calls, but you know what? It's got to be the same for both teams. When that happens there is a problem."
Pavelec admitted he didn't have the puck covered but was expecting a whistle.
"I don't know why he didn't whistle," Pavelec said. "I didn't have the puck, but the guy pushed me into the net and then he scores. It was the same thing at the other side."
Langfeld's first 2 goals came on power plays, his second during a 5-on-3 at 5:43 of the third period that cut the Wolves' lead to 3-2.
The Wolves were at odds with Davis for much of the night, but when they needed a power play most, they got it. Davis called Milwaukee's Nolan Yonkman for interference with 17 seconds remaining in regulation, but the Wolves never threatened to score on the power play that extended 1:43 into overtime.
In a battle of two of the top goalies in the AHL, Pavelec and Milwaukee's Pekka Rinne didn't disappoint.
Rinne, one of the Nashville Predators' best prospects, made 34 saves.
"I thought both goalies were outstanding," Anderson said. "It was pretty tight out there. There weren't a lot of great chances given by either team and that's exactly what we expected. They got the last shot."
Trailing 1-0, the Wolves went ahead on second period goals by Brett Sterling and Bryan Little and looked to be in great shape when Jesse Schultz scored on a power play early in the third period. But the game turned after Colin Stuart and Steve Martins took penalties 43 seconds apart.