Milwaukee Sinks Wolves; Magic Numbers Now 2
April 4, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release
ROSEMONT, Ill. - Trevor Smith was the lone scorer in the shootout as the Milwaukee Admirals edged the Chicago Wolves 4-3 on Tuesday night at Allstate Arena.
Although the Wolves lost, the magic number to clinch their 19th postseason berth in 24 years shrank to 2. If the Cleveland Monsters defeat the Admirals in regulation Wednesday, the Wolves (38-21-7-4) will punch their postseason ticket.
Goaltender Oscar Dansk (10-1-4) made 30 saves while forwards Teemu Pulkkinen, Paul Thompson and Brett Sterling tallied for Chicago as the game remained tied for the final 48 minutes of regulation and overtime.
"It's that time of the year," said Wolves head coach Rocky Thompson. "These games are so important for both teams. I think that's why you saw it come right down to the wire."
The Admirals (36-29-4-1) wasted no time and netted the game's first goal just 1:50 into the contest. Anthony Richard beat a Wolves defender, zipped across the crease and deposited the puck behind an outstretched Dansk for the 1-0 lead.
At 8:48, Beau Bennett sprang Pulkkinen up the left wing. He whizzed into the Milwaukee zone and got behind the defense for a breakaway chance that he tucked past Anders Lindback (31-19-4) for the equalizing tally.
Just under two minutes later, the Admirals jumped back into the lead when Frederic Allard fed the puck to Frederick Gaudreau and he powered through the neutral zone and into the Wolves' end. He got to the top of the slot and handed the puck to Harry Zolnierczyk skating parallel to the net. He wired a shot past Dansk for the 2-1 go-ahead goal.
The Wolves again tied the game - this time 2-2 - just 59 seconds after the Admirals scored. Bennett corralled his own shot attempt behind the Milwaukee net and fed it to Sterling waiting near the crease for the tap-in equalizer.
Chicago gained its first lead of the game at 12:41 - just 57 seconds after tying the game. Captain Thompson rang his first shot off the crossbar and then planted himself in front of the net. Philip Holm gathered the puck at the left-side wall and put it back on net. Thompson was there to redirect it past Lindback for the 3-2 go-ahead goal.
With less than three minutes to play in the first period, Milwaukee netted their third goal to tie the game again. Richard set up Bobby Butler at 17:03 of the frame.
In the shootout, Smith scored as Milwaukee's second shooter and Lindback made 29 saves while stopping all three Wolves players in the shootout to earn the win.
The Wolves travel to Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday to wrap up the season series with the Iowa Wild. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m., and the contest will stream on AHLLive.com. Visit ChicagoWolves.com for updates regarding the team and the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs.
American Hockey League Stories from April 4, 2018
- Monsters Tamed by Admirals, 6-3 - Cleveland Monsters
- Lehigh Valley Falls in Team's 300th Game - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Sens Edged by Thunderbirds - Belleville Senators
- Roy Nets Four Points as Checkers Flatten Phantoms - Charlotte Checkers
- Sateri Shines in 2-1 T-Birds Win in Belleville - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Iacopelli Reassigned to Fuel - Rockford IceHogs
- Spectra to Introduce Four New Concession Concepts to Sens Fans at Yardmen Arena - Belleville Senators
- Strome Named to 2017-18 AHL All-Rookie Team - Tucson Roadrunners
- Tom Kostopoulos to Retire Following 2017-18 Season - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Bears Weekly: Bears Visit Charlotte for Final Road Trip - Hershey Bears
- Syracuse Crunch Release Craig Wyszomirski from PTO - Syracuse Crunch
- Appleton and Niku Named to AHL All-Rookie Team - Manitoba Moose
- San Antonio Rampage Goaltender Ville Husso Named to 2017-18 AHL All-Rookie Team - San Antonio Rampage
- Filip Hronek Named to 2017-18 AHL All-Rookie Team - Grand Rapids Griffins
- 2017-18 American Hockey League All-Rookie Team Announced - AHL
- Daniel Sprong Named to AHL All-Rookie Team - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Danforth Named to ECHL All-Rookie Squad - Rochester Americans
- Rampage Sign Defenseman Turner Ottenbreit to Amateur Tryout Contract - San Antonio Rampage
- San Jose Barracuda Announce Schedule Change - San Jose Barracuda
- Coyotes Recall Mermis from Tucson - Tucson Roadrunners
- Griffins Prepare for Pair of Games at Tucson - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Flames Terminate Emergency Recall for Defenseman Oliver Kylington - Stockton Heat
- Downtown Career Fair Returns to the Blue Cross Arena on Friday, April 6 - Rochester Americans
- Comets Sign Defenseman Nolan Valleau, Release Forward Zac Lynch - Utica Comets
- Panthers Reassign F Owen Tippett to Thunderbirds - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Red Wings Assign Three to Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Senators Sign Sturtz to ATO - Belleville Senators
- Game Day Build-Up: Senators vs. Thunderbirds, April 4 - Belleville Senators
- Taylor Recalled by Ottawa - Belleville Senators
- Milwaukee Sinks Wolves; Magic Numbers Now 2 - Chicago Wolves
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.
