IceHogs edge Wolves in overtime
ROCKFORD - Jamie Wise's goal 2:05 into overtime lifted the Rockford IceHogs to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Wolves on Friday night in an Illinois Lottery Cup contest at the MetroCentre.
Adam Burish scored both goals for the Wolves (21-17-5-1) in their first game after the AHL all-star break, which included a tally with 1:02 left in regulation to force overtime. Goaltender Jordan Binnington (12-8-3) stopped 26 of 29 shots in the loss.
The IceHogs (26-13-4-2) opened the scoring with Mark McNeill's power-play goal at 15:27 of the first period. After Binnington made a diving save to deny Peter Regin, the teams battled for the rebound and the puck deflected off sticks and skates until it slid slowly across the goal line.
The Wolves evened the score on Burish's first goal with 17:34 gone in the first. The Wolves worked the puck around the offensive zone to set up David Shields' blast from the point. Burish sliced across the slot and redirected the slap shot past IceHogs goaltender Michael Leighton.
The IceHogs took a 2-1 lead at 10:48 of the third when defenseman Viktor Svedberg corraled the puck at the left point and deliberately launched it left of the net. The puck bounced off the boards at a sharp angle into the crease and banked off the back of Binnington's legs into the net.
The Wolves sent the game into overtime on Burish's second goal. Shortly after coach John Anderson pulled Binnington for an extra attacker, defenseman Mathieu Brodeur scalded a slap shot from the left point that Leighton stopped. Shane Harper battled in front of the crease to keep the puck alive and Burish swept in from the right to net the equalizer.
The IceHogs earned the game-winner during 4-on-4 play with a 4-on-2 rush. Wise took the puck down the middle of the offensive zone and launched a shot from 30 feet that eluded Binnington.
Leighton (12-7-4) posted 28 saves for the win, which ensured Rockford no worse than a share of the 2014-15 Illinois Lottery Cup. The IceHogs have won six of the first nine meetings in this season's 12-game series.
The Wolves return to Allstate Arena today at 7 p.m. for a rematch with Rockford.