ROSEMONT, Ill.---The Chicago Wolves fell behind 19 seconds into the game and never recovered, despite a two-goal third-period rally, as they fell, 4-2, to the Manitoba Moose at the Allstate Arena Saturday night.The tilt marked the conclusion of a season-high five-game homestand for Chicago (11-10-0-1), which posted a 3-2-0-0 mark in the stretch.
After being held scoreless for the first 40 minutes, Chicago added two power-play goals in the third frame. Joey Crabb got the Wolves on the board, 4:16 into the third period. Defenseman Steve McCarthy sent a pass to center Johnny Pohl, who shipped the puck to Crabb for a sharp deflection into the net from the left corner of the goal.
The Wolves clawed to within two goals, 4-2, with 8:07 remaining in the game when right wing Anthony Stewart flung a shot from the right face-off circle past Manitoba goaltender Daren Machesney (3-7-0), but the netminder shut the door the rest of the way, turning aside 28 Wolves shots to backstop his team to the win.
"The game was over in the first period," said Wolves Head Coach Don Lever. "They play a tight defensive game and that's tough to come back against. We had chances but it was too little, too late."
The Moose wasted no time taking the lead, 1-0, scoring just 19 seconds into the game. Center Marco Rosa threw the puck out from behind the Wolves net to a waiting Mario Bliznak, who shoved it between Wolves goaltender Drew MacIntyre and the post.
Manitoba (13-9-4-0) made its lead two, seven minutes into the contest, when Matt Pettinger walked in to the top of the crease and deked MacIntyre out of position before pushing the puck past him.
Chicago fell into a 3-0 hole when Bliznak tallied his second of the game and the eventual game-winner at 10:46 of the second period. The forward beat two Wolves defenders up the ice and took a shot, which dribbled under MacIntyre's pads. The goal sent MacIntyre to bench in favor of backup Peter Mannino.
MacIntyre (6-8-0) posted nine saves on 12 shots in 30:46 of action, while Mannino stopped eight of nine shots in 26:18 of relief duty.
Right wing Dan Sexton made Manitoba's lead four after center Marty Murray won the puck in a battle along the boards behind Chicago's goal and threw it out front, where Sexton slapped it past Mannino with 4:22 remaining in the second period.
The Wolves hit the road on Wednesday for a matchup with the Rockford IceHogs at the Rockford MetroCentre at 7 p.m.
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