Chicago Wolves work overtime to take Game 1
It's a terrifying, coldblooded, crunching blow.
One that kept Chicago Wolves forward and league MVP Daniel Carr out of action for nearly two months.
Early in the third period of a game at San Antonio on March 5, Carr is skating the puck out of the defensive zone and the instant he passes it he is absolutely obliterated by the Rampage's Jordan Nolan.
The moment Nolan's elbow exploded into Carr's head, Wolves radio analyst Billy Gardner exclaimed, "OHHH!"
Carr, who missed the remainder of the regular season and a first-round playoff series against Grand Rapids, made a triumphant return by recording a pair of assists in a 3-2 Game 1 overtime victory against Iowa on Wednesday night at the Allstate Arena.
The best-of-seven Calder Cup playoff series continues in Rosemont on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Rookie Cody Glass, ripping home a perfect feed from Tye McGinn, notched the game-winner with 1:21 remaining.
Oscar Dansk made 26 saves for the Wolves, 10 of which came in overtime.
Carr, an undrafted 27-year-old who has 100 games of NHL experience, was named MVP on the strength of a 30-goal, 41-assist campaign.
"That's kind of a team award," said Carr, who politely declined to answer a question about Nolan's hit that earned the San Antonio forward a two-game suspension. "Our line had a lot of success and that plays into it a lot.
"It was a big honor. This is the second-best league in the world. … I get a lot of opportunity here, so I'm pretty grateful for that because I haven't had that everywhere in my career."
Carr also played in six games for Vegas, scoring his only NHL goal in an 8-3 victory over the Blackhawks at the United Center on Nov. 27. It came when he roofed a wrist shot over Corey Crawford at 2:10 of the first period.
Asked what makes Carr such a special talent, coach Rocky Thompson said: "His work ethic. He's dogged. He works hard, he's intense and he's very competitive. …
"Obviously he has skill … but I think that's why he has those things because he's worked so hard."
Also returning for the Wolves was 26-goal scorer Brooks Macek, who hadn't played since March 20. Macek scored the Wolves' first goal by pounding home a rebound off a long blast from Jake Bischoff.
"That one was kind of a treat," Macek said. "It was just sitting there and I was just in the right spot at the right time. Luckily I didn't miss."
Defenseman Nic Hague tied it at 2-2 with 13:32 remaining.
Glass, who has 6 goals in just 12 games since coming over from juniors, one-timed the game-winner after the pass from McGinn went between two Iowa players.
"That's my first overtime winner," Glass said. "It was very exciting and obviously it was nice having the guys all over me. I don't even know what I was doing for a (celebration). I was just jumping around."