Lone goal dooms Chicago Wolves
Chicago Wolves goaltender Jordan Binnington registered 35 saves, but the Rockford IceHogs recorded a late power-play goal to claim a 1-0 victory Wednesday night in an Illinois Lottery Cup clash at Allstate Arena.
Right wing Ryan Haggerty scored with 5:58 left to give Rockford the victory and a 7-5 advantage in the teams' 12-game series this season.
"Our goalie played great and gave us a great chance to win," said Wolves head coach John Anderson. "One shot. That's it. I thought we competed. They were just a little quicker than us to pucks. But 'Binny' played well enough to give us a chance."
The Wolves (30-31-5-3) peppered Rockford goaltender Mac Carruth with 12 shots in the opening 10 minutes, but the hosts finished with 23 shots as Carruth (2-3-1) picked up his second American Hockey League shutout.
Rockford (36-19-5-4) snapped the scoreless tie on the game's eighth and final power-play opportunity. Vinnie Hinostroza fed Haggerty the puck in the slot and he gathered himself to lift a hard wrister over Binnington's blocker.
Binnington (16-15-5) maintained a recent hot streak that finds him with a 4-2-0 record, 2.35 goals-against average and .930 save percentage in his last 6 games.
The Wolves host the Lake Erie Monsters at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday to cap their Spring Break homestand.