Wolves score early, often to rout IceHogs
Quick start, quite a finish.
The Chicago Wolves reeled off 3 goals in the opening 10 minutes and powered to a 7-1 Illinois Lottery Cup triumph over Rockford on Friday night at Allstate Arena.
Among the Wolves’ highlights: rookie Dmitrij Jaskin posted his first 2-goal performance as a professional and added an assist, and Taylor Chorney recorded 2 goals for the second time in his career. Ty Rattie and Shane Harper added power-play goals in the first period as the Wolves notched 3 power-play goals in a game for the first time since April 13, 2012.
“I’m happy we scored 7 goals, but I am even more happy that we limited their chances,” said Wolves coach John Anderson. “I hope we didn’t waste all our goals tonight with the rematch Saturday.”
The Wolves (10-8-0-2) opened the scoring at 3:05 of the first period during 4-on-4 action. The Wolves controlled the puck in the offensive zone for a long stretch until Chorney received a pass in the slot. He glided backward into the far circle, faked a defender into dropping to the ice and fired a shot between the legs of IceHogs goaltender Kent Simpson, as Corey Locke and Brent Regner earned assists.
The Wolves took a 2-0 lead on Rattie’s power-play goal at 7:41 of the first. Cade Fairchild (3 assists) rifled a shot from the left point that Simpson deflected to Locke in the far circle. Locke couldn’t convert the rebound, but Rattie was in position on the other side of the crease and knocked the puck into the open net.
The Wolves needed just two minutes to deliver another power-play goal when Fairchild’s pass from the point to Rattie along the goal line set up a Harper goal at 9:41 of the first. The IceHogs replaced Simpson with backup Mac Carruth.
Jaskin pushed the margin to 4-0 when his bullet from the near circle beat Carruth glove-side at 2:15 of the second period. Pat Cannone and Evan Oberg picked up assists. Chorney registered a power-play goal at 8:38 of the second period, and Jaskin added his second goal 34 seconds into the third. Center Christian Hanson capped the Wolves’ scoring when he re-directed Fairchild’s blast from the point to make it 7-0 at 13:34 of the third.
Wolves goalie Jake Allen (9-4-2) stopped 19 shots. Simpson (3-6-0) took the loss for the IceHogs (11-11-1-0) with 3 saves, while Carruth stopped 18 shots.
The Wolves travel to Rockford today to meet the IceHogs at 7 p.m..