Wolves fall 4-2 to Rampage
The Chicago Wolves closed out their home-opening weekend doubleheader with a 4-2 loss to the San Antonio Rampage on Sunday at the Allstate Arena.
Defenseman David Shields and right wing Mark Mancari scored for the Wolves (2-2-0-0), but it was not enough to overcome the Rampage and center Vincent Trocheck’s 2-goal game. Chicago goaltender Matt Climie (0-2-0) made 24 saves in the loss.
“We had our chances to win the game, but we just couldn’t cash in,” Wolves coach John Anderson said. “I thought our power play was excellent, but when you’re a team that is supposed to score a lot of goals and you don’t, it is tough to win.”
San Antonio (2-2-0-0) scored first, 15 minutes into the game. Rampage defenseman Alex Petrovic picked up the puck just above the right faceoff circle and let loose a shot that dribbled past Climie.
Shields got the Wolves on the board halfway through the second period with his first career AHL goal. Center Alexandre Bolduc made a pass to a pinching Shields, who placed a shot over the shoulder of Rampage goaltender Michael Houser. Houser (1-0-0) made 28 saves to get his first AHL win.
It looked as though the Wolves would end the second period tied, but Rampage defenseman Mike Mottau scored with one second left to put San Antonio ahead. The Rampage drew Climie to his left before Mottau received a cross-crease pass he sent into the net.
San Antonio added insurance early in the third as Trocheck fired a shot top shelf that beat Climie and doubled the Rampage lead. The Wolves struck back 46 seconds later to get within 1 as Mark Mancari streaked down the right wall and scored on an angled shot.
Trocheck scored his second goal of the game five minutes into the third period to seal the win for San Antonio.
Chicago played three of its first four games against the Rampage, winning two of three. The Wolves only face San Antonio once more this year, a road matchup in December.
The Wolves close their homestand Friday at 7:30 p.m. when Rockford visits the Allstate Arena for the first time this season.