Wolves’ late rally fizzles

The Chicago Wolves pulled within a goal late in the third period but couldn’t find the equalizer as the Rockford IceHogs earned the 3-2 win before 11,255 fans at the Allstate Arena on Sunday.

Trailing, 3-1, in the third period, Chicago (37-28-3-6) pulled to 3-2 with 6:22 to play. Center Jason Krog chipped the puck up the ice to left wing Carl Klingberg from the blueline and the forward took it, moved to his backhand and flipped a shot past Rockford goalie Alec Richards to earn his first American Hockey League goal.

But it wasn’t enough

“It’s very disappointing,” said Wolves coach Don Lever. “We just couldn’t get on track. Eddie (Pasquale) was fabulous in goal, but we just didn’t play with any desperation until the last five minutes.”

Rockford (32-32-4-5) took a 1-0 lead 4:53 into the first period with a power-play marker from Mathis Olimb. Center Peter LeBlanc carried the puck into the zone and flicked a shot from the right circle, which Pasquale kicked out, but the rebound squirted out to Olimb, who fired it in the back of the net.

Pettersson evened it up for the Wolves at 1-1 at 11:21 of the first period.

Krog sent a pass across the zone to Pettersson low in the left circle and he ripped a shot past Richards and into the corner of the net.

Richards (15-21-1) turned aside 21 shots in the win for the IceHogs.