Chicago Wolves beat Colorado to even series at two games apiece; Game 5 Friday at Allstate Arena

Score first. That was what Chicago Wolves coach Spiros Anastas really wanted out of his team ahead of Game 4.

In Game 3 against the Colorado Eagles, Chicago nearly overcame a two-goal deficit in the third period, but ultimately, they fell short. He didn’t want the Wolves to be in the same scenario on Wednesday night.

“We have to get high shot volume early, give ourselves the opportunity to score some goals rather than chasing in the third,” Anastas said pregame.

A second period, short-handed goal by center Justin Robidas made Anastas’ wish come true, allowing Chicago to strike first in its 2-1 victory over Colorado in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. Left winger Bradly Nadeau scored the Wolves’ other goal early in the third period to help even the series at 2-2.

“We dictated the pace,” Anastas said after the contest. “I thought we came out with a great start. We outshot them in the first period, did everything we had to do.”

For the first time in the series, the Wolves prevented the Eagles from scoring a first-period goal. Both teams had nine shots on goal, Chicago’s most shots on goal in the first period during the series.

The Wolves’ 15th shot on goal found the back of the net, nearly 11 minutes into the second period, Robidas scored his short-handed goal, Chicago’s second such goal in as many games. Nadeau forced a turnover and dished the puck to Robidas, who delivered for a 1-0 lead.

“We have a real high pressure (penalty kill), so when these guys smell blood, they have the green light to roll,” Anastas said. “They smelled it, and they got it. Just a really hard play, and that’s what we needed tonight.”

Less than a minute and a half into the third period, Nadeau fired a shot from near the left dot that found nylon to add an insurance goal for the Wolves. Defender Juuso Välimäki and center Ivan Ryabkin registered assists.

Colorado got on the scoreboard with 8:39 remaining in the contest, as center Alex Barré-Boulet scored from the right side of the left circle on an assist by center T.J. Hughes. Defender Alex Gagne also had an assist on the play.

Though the Eagles went empty net for the two and a half minutes of the contest, Chicago’s defense stood strong for the victory. Wolves goaltender Cayden Prineau totaled 17 of his 33 saves in the final period.

After Chicago’s bounceback victory, it will host Game 5 inside Allstate Arena at 7 p.m. Friday.

“It’s the best two out of three now,” Anastas said. “They say your job is to split on the road and take the majority of games at home, so we have an opportunity to win two at home, and then we got to split on the road again.”