Big second period lifts Wolves to AHL win

The suddenly surging Chicago Wolves grabbed a weekend split with the Rockford Ice Hogs by taking the return match at Allstate Arena by a whopping 7-3 count in American Hockey League play Saturday night.

The IceHogs won in Rockford the previous evening 3-2, but the Wolves responded in a big way and after dropping its first three games of the season the Wolves have now recorded wins in three of its past four games.

Seven different shooters stepped up with goals for the Wolves who fired three unanswered middle period goals, turning a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes into a comfortable 5-1 cushion heading to the final frame where both teams added a pair.

Ivan Barbashev and Brett Sterling paced the offensive attack with a goal and two assists each and Jordan Caron collected three assists. Morgan Ellis, Kenny Agostino and Brad Hunt each picked up a goal and a helper with other goals fired by Landon Ferraro and Wade Megan. Pheonix Copley made 26 saves in goal to pick up the win for the Wolves.

Erik Gustafsson fired his first two goals of the season for the IceHogs and Tanner Kero scored the other. Mac Carruth (41:43 16/22) and Lars Johansson (18:17 10/11) both took a turn in goal for the visitors.

The loss snapped a four-game IceHogs’ winning streak and dropped the team to 4-3-0-0 on the season.

in other AHL action on Saturday, the Iowa Wild spoiled the home opener for the Milwaukee Admirals with a 3-2 edge at UW-Milwaukee Panthers Arena and the Charlotte Checkers completed a two-game weekend sweep of the visiting Grand Rapids Griffins with a 3-0 shutout at Bojangles’ Coliseum.

Stars 3 at Admirals 2

Steve Michalek turned in another fine effort in goal, turning aside 36 shots, including all 16 in a wild third period that saw the Ads trying to send the fans home happy, with a 16-4 edge on the shots board.

The Wild, playing on the road for the first time after seven straight at home to start the season, scored the lone goal of the first period, Colton Beck pulling the trigger.

Jordan Schroeder fired his fourth of the season to double the margin 27 seconds into the middle period but goals by Matt White and Adam Payerl pulled the home team even before the six-minute mark of the period.

Sam Anas restored the lead for the Wild at the 11:01 mark and while the visitors couldn’t add to it, Michalek made it enough for the win.

Juuse Saros, just back from a call-up to the Nashville Predators, stopped 15 of 18 in goal for the Admirals who dropped to .500 with its third straight defeat. The Stars meanhile boosted its own record to 3-4-0-1 with a home and away sweep of the Admirals and wins in three of its past four starts.

Griffins 0 at Checkers

The Griffins came away with nothing on a weekend trip to the Tar Heel State as Michael Leighton stopped all 30 of the shots he faced to make it easier for his teammates.

Valentin Zykov fired his second of the season for the Checkers 2:32 into the game and the other two came from Derek Ryan, his fourth and fifth of the season.

Eddie Pasquale went to the crease for the Griffins handling 28 of 30 as the second Ryan marker was fired into an empty Griffins’ goal with 1:28 to play in the contest.

Sunday Games

AHL league action on Sunday (Oct. 30) will see the Cleveland Monsters stopping at Allstate Arena to play the Chicago Wolves while the Admirals hit the road again, facing off against the Rockford Ice Hogs at BMO Harris Bank Center.