Sterling's OT goal wins it for Wolves
Brett Sterling scored in overtime, breaking a 3-3 tie and giving the Chicago Wolves a 4-3 victory over the Quad City on Saturday night at the Allstate Arena.
Sterling, who also collected the overtime game-winner in a 4-3 decision the last time the Wolves and Flames faced off on Nov. 29, 2008, collected a rebound in front of the crease and shoveled it over the goal-line. The 24-year-old forward set a franchise record with four overtime winners last season and has accomplished the feat twice through 32 games this year.
With the win, Chicago (22-19-2-1) moves into a tie for second place in the West Division with 47 points, after snapping a seven-game losing skid on Wednesday.
"It was a great week for us. Gherson battled in net, the older guys stepped up and we played with more confidence," said Wolves Head Coach Don Granato. "Tonight, from start to finish, there was no question those guys believed they could score."
After an explosive beginning, which saw both Chicago and Quad City (15-18-5-3) score in the first 51 seconds of the game, the squads traded tallies with neither club able to gain a decisive advantage, forcing the extra frame.
The Flames needed just 19 seconds to take the wind out of Chicago's sails, 1-0. With goaltender Robert Gherson knocked to the ground, defenseman Brett Palin fired a shot to the corner of the net, which the goaltender swatted at but couldn't recover.
Chicago's Jeff Hamilton converted on a penalty shot 32 seconds later to give the Wolves a fresh start, 1-1. The right wing went in on goaltender Matt Keetley, deked and slipped the puck five-hole for Chicago's first penalty shot score of the season.
Quad City grabbed the lead, 2-1, when right wing Adam Cracknell slid the puck through Gherson's pads, 11:19 into the first period.
Sixty-eight seconds into the second period, Hamilton cranked a blast from the blueline by Keetley to once again pull the Wolves even, 2-2.
Defenseman Brian Sipotz lasered a long shot by Keetley, 4:27 into the middle frame, to give Chicago its first advantage of the game, 3-2, and chase the goalie in favor of Leland Irving.
Irving (8-8-1), stopped 21 Chicago attempts in 36:33 of relief duty, while Keetley turned aside nine of 12 shots in 24:27 of action.
The Flames answered with a power-play tally, 18:30 into the second frame to send the game into the second intermission locked at 3-3. Left wing Kyle Greentree took a pass low in the zone and stuffed the puck into the corner of the net.
Gherson (8-5-0) posted 26 saves for Chicago.