Chops first trip to Chicago ends in shootout loss

January 30, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Chops News Release


Led by two, 3rd period power play goals to erase a 3-1 Chops lead, the Chicago Wolves scored twice in the shootout to spoil the Chops first visit to Chicago this season with a 4-3 shootout win.

An Iowa Chops power play that held scoreless the last two games, came out with a fury on Thursday night in Chicago from the get-go. After the Wolves had one ring off the post early, the Chops answered back with a power play goal from the point off the stick of Brian Salcido, who's slapshot beat a screened Ondrej Pavelec with assists to Petteri Wirtanen and Matt Beleskey. Some more undiciplined penalties by the Wolves gave the Chops more power play chances and the Chops went 2 for 2 on the power play right off a face-off win from Ajay Baines, who won the puck back to Troy Bodie, who beat Pavelec with a wrist shot over the shoulder to make it 2-0 Chops. Chicago would close to within 2-1 as toughman Mike Hoffman stayed with his forecheck knocking the puck off a Chops defensemen's stick and into Chops goaltender David LeNeveu, who thought he had covered the puck only to see it trickle through his legs in into the goal. The Wolves outshot Iowa 10-8 in the opening period.

The Chops would increase the lead in the 2nd period thanks again to the power play as Adrian Veideman drove home a shot from the point with another assist to Baines and also to Eric Regan. With a 3-1 lead in hand, Chicago would take more penalties, but the Chops could not break through and late in the period, two quick back-to-back Chops penalties gave the Wolves a 5 on 3 power play heading into the 3rd period down two goals.

The 5 on 3 paid off for Chicago right away as Brett Sterling pushed home a loose puck in front only :30 seconds into the period to make it 3-2. Jordan Lavallee would add another power play goal to tie the game at 3-3, as the Chops were outshot 14-2 in the 3rd period. Neither team could connect in the overtime session, and in the shootout the Chops could only manage one goal from Matt Beleskey while the Wolves countered with two for a 4-3 shootout win. The Chops fall to 0-4 in shootouts this season.

Iowa Chops President Steve Nitzel has announced that the single-game attendance record for a professional hockey game at the Wells Fargo Arena, has a very good chance to be broken during the next Iowa Chops home game on Friday, January 30th against the Peoria Rivermen. Face-off time at the Wells Fargo Arena in 7:05pm. The night begins with a pre-game tailgate party at Hy-Vee Hall beginning at 5pm. Live music will be provided by 35 South and the event is presented by 95KGGO. The first 1,000 fans through the door will also receive a FREE set of Iowa Chops Trading Cards courtesy of New York Life.

The previous attendance record for a hockey game at the Wells Fargo Arena of 8,842 was set back on January 28, 2006. The Iowa Chops set a season-high attendace mark during their last home game of 7,167 fans in a 3-1 loss to San Antonio back on January 24, 2009. The attendace record for back-to-back home games is 17,151 set back on October 6th and 8th of 2005. This mark also has chance of being broken on Friday. For more information on how to be a part of this potentially historic night, call the Iowa Chops office at 515-564-8700 or visit www.iowachops.com.



American Hockey League Stories from January 30, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central