Wolves fall to IceHogs in shootout

Chicago Wolves goaltender Ondrej Pavelec stopped 5 of 7 Rockford IceHogs attempts in a shootout and notched 29 saves in regulation and overtime, but it wasn't enough.

Rockford center Tim Brent's shootout score gave the IceHogs 3-2 victory over the Wolves at the Allstate Arena on Sunday night.

Junior Lessard was the only Wolves skater to convert during the shootout, while right wing Jack Skille netted the other shootout goal for Rockford.

Skille and Wolves right wing Joe Motzko each scored a pair of goals in regulation.

Pavelec has allowed just 12 goals in seven straight starts and ranks fifth in the American Hockey League with a .941 save percentage and sixth with a 1.69 goals-against average.

"It was a tough game and a hard-fought game," said Wolves coach Don Granato. "You compete to win, but sometimes that's not the way it goes. But you still want to see the level of intensity and effort level is there, and I was happy with that tonight."

Motzko needed just 2:05 to collect his second goal of the season to stake the Wolves (4-1-1-1) to an early lead. Matt Anderson and Grant Lewis earned assists.

IceHogs goalie Antti Niemi made 34 saves.

Skille brought the IceHogs (7-1-0-0) even at 1-1 at 14:12 of the first period.

Motzko gave the Wolves a 2-1 lead 1:56 into the second period, but Skille answered with his second goal just over eight minutes later.

The Wolves host the Providence Bruins at the Allstate Arena on Wednesday at 7 p.m.