Chicago Wolves have to be satisfied with road split after loss at Colorado

The Chicago Wolves came up short to the Colorado Eagles 5-2 in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs on Saturday night in Loveland, Colorado.

Joel Nystrom and Ivan Ryabkin scored but the Wolves couldn’t hold a third-period lead as the Eagles rallied to even the best-of-7 American Hockey League series at 1-1. Game 3 is scheduled for Tuesday night at Allstate Arena.

The Eagles led 1-0 after one period on a tally by Tristen Nielsen, but the Wolves evened things early in the second on Nystrom’s first goal of the postseason. Noel Gunler fired the puck off the end boards behind the Colorado net and Nystrom swooped in and banged the carom past Eagles netminder Trent Miner to the glove side. Gunler and Skyler Brind’Amour picked up assists.

A short time later, Ryabkin’s marker put the Wolves out in front 2-1. Nikita Pavlychev sent a shot on goal that Miner stopped but yielded a rebound that Ryabkin pounced on and shoveled a backhander into the back of the net. Pavlychev and Evan Vierling had assists on Ryabkin’s third goal of the playoffs.