Quinney hat trick powers Wolves past Admirals

Center Gage Quinney recorded his second career hat trick to lead the Chicago Wolves to a 4-1 victory over the league-leading Milwaukee Admirals on Saturday night at Allstate Arena.

Quinney produced his first hat trick since Oct. 24, 2018, against the Cleveland Monsters. Defenseman Jake Bischoff added his first goal of the year and Oscar Dansk posted 22 saves for the Wolves (20-17-3-2), who've won five of their last six. Milwaukee (27-8-4-2) suffered its second-widest loss of the year.

"I was really, really happy with how our guys played," said Wolves head coach Rocky Thompson. "We've been progressively getting better and better. We played a really good game in Milwaukee (on Wednesday) as well, but this was even a bit of a notch up for us."

The Wolves jumped out to the lead just 2:29 into the game on Quinney's ninth goal of the year. Defenseman Zach Whitecloud rimmed the puck all the way around to the left corner for Curtis McKenzie, who backhanded a pass that Quinney took behind the net for a wraparound goal.

Bischoff made it 2-0 at the 2:49 mark of the second period, then Quinney delivered his second and third goals just 45 seconds apart. Quinney swept behind the net at 8:07 and pivoted in the left faceoff circle to rifle a wrister past Admirals goaltender Troy Grosenick.

Forty-five seconds later, Whitecloud fed Quinney in the left faceoff circle and he whistled a backhander top-shelf for a 4-0 lead 8:52 into the second period.

With 12:46 to play, Admirals forward Eeli Tolvanen broke up Dansk's bid for his third shutout of the year.

Dansk improved his record to 14-6-2 while Grosenick (15-4-2) finished with 24 saves.

The Wolves host the Rockford IceHogs at 3 p.m. Sunday in an Illinois Lottery Cup contest.