AHL Chicago Wolves

Wolves Forage for Win over Wild

December 8, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release


DES MOINES, Iowa - Rookie forward Ivan Barbashev scored the go-ahead goal with 4:43 left to spark the Chicago Wolves to a 5-3 victory over the Iowa Wild on Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Arena.

Forwards Jordan Caron, Yannick Veilleux and Pat Cannone scored the first three goals for the Wolves (11-7-1-2) while defenseman Peter Harrold earned three assists. Andre Benoit added an empty-net goal in the final minute.

Chicago opened the scoring at 12:19 of the first period as Caron scored for the fourth game in a row. Chicago enjoyed extended puck possession in Iowa's zone before defenseman Peter Harrold charged toward the right circle and fed Caron near the right post. Caron flipped a backhand pass toward the crease that was designed for the cutting Harrold, but it banked off a defender's skate into the net.

Iowa (4-18-1-3) pulled even at 18:42 of the first when Christoph Bertschy skated across the slot and redirected Gustav Olofsson's blast from the left point.

Chicago regained the lead at 6:40 of the second period on Veilleux's sixth goal of the year. He carried the puck into the zone down the right side, dropped the puck off to Evan Trupp and headed toward the left circle to accept a quick pass and lift it top-shelf for a 2-1 lead.

The Wolves seized a 3-1 lead at 13:38 on Cannone's power-play goal. Harrold launched a rocket from the right circle that Irving blocked. Danny Kristo corralled the rebound and knocked it off the post before Cannone swooped into the crease for the tap-in.

The Wild answered with Zack Mitchell's power-play goal 1:41 into the third period. Michael Keranen carried the puck to the goal line and fed it back to Mitchell for a quick snapper from the left circle to cut Chicago's lead to 3-2.

Iowa tallied another power-play goal at 8:10 to make it 3-3. Former Wolves center Jordan Schroeder crashed the crease to tap a rebound through goaltender Pheonix Copley's skates.

Barbashev's game-winner with 4:43 left was set up by Jeremy Welsh and Harrold. With Welsh causing traffic above the crease, Barbashev fired the puck from the top of the right circle and scored.

Iowa pulled Irving with 90 seconds left in search of the equalizer, but Benoit clinched the game with his empty-net goal from the neutral zone with 56 seconds to go.

Copley (5-4-1) stopped 32 shots to pick up the win while Irving (3-8-3) posted 26 saves.

The Wolves travel to face Lake Erie at 6 p.m. Friday and 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The team returns to Allstate Arena on Thursday, Dec. 17, for a School-Day Game against Texas. To purchase holiday flex packs that come with 10 ticket vouchers and several holiday gifts, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 8, 2015


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