Wolves lose 3-2 at Peoria

PEORIA - The Chicago Wolves closed in on the Peoria Rivermen during the final period of Friday night's game but could not find the equalizer, suffering from an eventual 3-2 loss at Carver Arena.

Wolves right wing Joe Motzko and left wing Brett Sterling each potted power-play goals for the Wolves, while goaltender Dan Turple (5-5-0) turned aside 20 of 23 shots in Chicago's third straight loss.

The Wolves (13-9-1-1) opened scoring with a power-play goal at 10:59 of the first period. Motzko accepted a pass from right wing Jeff Hamilton, skated to the corner and ripped a shot through traffic and past Peoria netminder Ben Bishop.

Bishop (7-6-0) recorded 42 saves on 44 shots.

Peoria (13-9-1-0) evened the score, 1-1, at 13:08 of the first period when center Julian Talbot found the puck alongside Chicago goaltender Turple's pads and flipped a shot into the back of the net for the power-play goal.

The Rivermen doubled their lead, 2-1, with a second power-play marker after blueliner Jonas Junland fired a one-timer from the slot, which was redirected off the shoulder of netminder Turple, into the air and slid past the goal line with 31 seconds remaining in the first frame.

Peoria continued with a third straight goal on the power play at 14:29 of the second period. Forward Josh Soares skated to the doorstep, corralled the rebound and flicked a shot by a sprawled out Turple.

Chicago broke the Rivermen scoring streak at 11:59 of the third period when Sterling collected a pass from Motzko at the corner and chipped a shot behind Peoria goaltender Bishop.

The Wolves will head back to the Allstate Arena on Saturday to face the Rockford IceHogs at 7 p.m.