AHL Chicago Wolves

Wolves vault Chops, 4-3, in shootout

Published on January 29, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release


ROSEMONT, Ill.---The Chicago Wolves fought back to tie the game, 3-3, with just under six minutes remaining in regulation and goaltender Ondrej Pavelec stopped four of five Iowa Chops attempts in the shootout to lift the Wolves to a 4-3 shootout win at the at the Allstate Arena Thursday night.

Wolves right wing Jeff Hamilton and defenseman Brett Skinner converted on their shootout tries to edge the Chops out for the win. The victory moved Chicago (23-21-2-1) into fifth in the West Division, one point behind fourth-place Iowa (22-18-2-4) and three points back from the second-place Rockford IceHogs.

Trailing 3-1 after 40 minutes, Chicago came out of the gates firing in the third period, inching back within one tally just 30 seconds into the frame when left wing Brett Sterling parked at the front of the goal mouth and pounced on a rebound, shoveling the puck past Chops goaltender David LeNeveu.

The Wolves remained on the offensive, hammering out 14 shots on goal to Iowa's two in the game's final 20 minutes, until left wing Jordan LaVallee evened the score, 3-3. Defenseman Jamie Rivers sent a pass from the blue line down to LaVallee at the corner of the net, where the forward turned and banged it by LeNeveu.

LeNeveu (12-10-2) thwarted 30 Chicago shots in regulation and overtime, and stopped three of five Wolves tries in the shootout.

Iowa defenseman Brian Salcido gave the Chops a 1-0 cushion, 8:24 into the first period when he fired a blast from the blueline that bypassed traffic in front of the net and beat a screened Pavelec.

The Chops followed suit on their second power play chance, banging the puck past Pavelec off the ensuing face off. Center Ajay Baines knocked the puck back to right wing Troy Bodie, who collected it and cranked it by an unsuspecting Pavelec.

Right wing Mike Hoffman cut the Chops' lead in half, 2-1, when he came around the back of the net and pushed the puck out of a scrum near the post and between LeNeveu's legs with 2:28 remaining in the first frame.

Iowa regained their two-goal lead, 3-1, heading into the third frame. Defenseman Adrian Veideman picked up the puck near the blue line, walked in and flung a shot, which saucered through the air, bounced off Pavelec's pads and skipped up out of his reach and just inside the goal post.

Pavelec (7-6-1) turned aside 23 of 26 shots in regulation and overtime. The Wolves travel to Wisconsin to face the division-leading Milwaukee Admirals at the Bradley Center on Friday at 7 p.m., before returning home to take on the Houston Aeros at the Allstate Arena on Saturday at 7 p.m.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 29, 2009


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