Wolves rally for 4-3 shootout win over Iowa Wild
The Chicago Wolves had a big night on the ice and in the record books during a 4-3 shootout victory over the Iowa Wild on Saturday at the Allstate Arena.
Center Keith Aucoin and right wing Mark Mancari each dished out 2 assists. Aucoin’s second point gave him sole possession of seventh in American Hockey League all-time scoring, while Mancari’s first helper made him the 87th player in AHL history to record 500 points.
Left wing Sergey Andronov, center Pat Cannone and right wing Ty Rattie scored for the Wolves in regulation, and Chicago was successful with all four shootout attempts. After surrendering 3 goals in the opening period, goaltender Matt Climie shut out the Wild and allowed only 1 goal in the shootout.
“We had an awful start, maybe our worst of the season,” Wolves coach John Anderson said. “But I liked our resolve, and we earned those 2 points.”
Two seconds after killing off the first penalty of the game, the Wolves (18-13-1-2) surrendered the opening score. Defenseman Kyle Medvec skated the puck across the blue line and launched a shot top-shelf from the center for the lead at 5:51.
Minutes later Andronov tipped in a shot from Aucoin at the center of the zone to tie the score at 1-1.
The Wild (14-14-2-1) added 2 goals in the second half of the first period for a 2-goal lead. Center Carson McMillan struck short-handed at 10:57, and left wing Erik Haula scored top-shelf at 17:35.
Cannone answered for the Wolves with 38 seconds remaining in the opening period to cut the Wild’s lead in half. Cannone stationed himself in front of Iowa goaltender John Curry and deflected a shot to make it 3-2.
The Wolves tied the game at 13:52 of the second period on Rattie’s team-leading 12th goal. Aucoin cycled behind the net and sent a pass to the top of the zone for defenseman Joel Edmundson. He fed the puck down low to Rattie, who buried it. Aucoin’s assist gave him sole possession of seventh place with 830 career points in 731 games.
Following a scoreless third period and overtime, the Wolves were perfect in the shootout. Rattie, Aucoin, right wing Sebastian Wannstrom, and left wing Dmitrij Jaskin all scored for the Wolves. McMillan beat Climie in the third round, but the goalie stuffed center Zack Phillips and Haula on the first two chances.
Climie (4-7-0) stopped 27 shots through regulation and overtime. Curry (2-1-1) ended the night with 26 saves.
The Wolves return to the ice Sunday at 3 p.m. for an Illinois Lottery Cup battle with Rockford at the Allstate Arena.