Wolves Burn Heat, 5-2
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The Chicago Wolves trailed 2-1 after 20 minutes of play but rattled off the final four goals to earn a 5-2 victory Thursday night over the Abbotsford Heat at the Allstate Arena.
Right wing Mark Mancari (2G, A) and forwards Jordan Schroeder, Victor Oreskovich and Tim Miller posted tallies for Chicago, which won for the fifth time in its last six outings.
"I thought we started well despite the score," said Wolves Head Coach Craig MacTavish. "We gave up two power-play goals but we were able to capitalize when we received the man-advantage and it helped us earn two points."
Trailing 2-1 heading into the second period, Chicago (14-10-1-3) tied the score 4:09 into the middle frame. Defenseman Mark Matheson's shot from the point was stopped by Abbotsford goaltender Danny Taylor but the rebound bounced to Mancari, who tucked the puck home from the far post.
Chicago grabbed a 3-2 lead while on the power play at 10:46 of the second stanza. Mancari's shot was blocked by Taylor and the clearing attempt of the rebound hit a Heat defenseman and landed at the skates of Schroeder, who snapped a shot past Taylor.
The Wolves inched ahead 4-2 when forward Nathan Longpre dropped a pass from the side of the net into the slot for Oreskovich, who one-timed a shot past Taylor.
Miller's short-handed empty-net tally with 49 seconds remaining in the game gave the Wolves a 5-2 lead.
Abbotsford (20-9-2-0) opened scoring on the power play when defenseman Jordan Henry picked up a loose puck in the slot and flicked it over the shoulder of Wolves goaltender Eddie Lack at 5:43 of the first period.
Chicago knotted the score 1-1 at 13:39 of the opening frame. Center Steve Reinprecht wrapped around the net with the puck and fed Mancari standing alone at the top of the crease. He tapped the puck past Taylor into an empty net.
Taylor (10-5-0) posted 30 saves.
The Heat jumped ahead 2-1 on the power play when center Krys Kolanos' shot from the near circle deflected off the leg of forward Quintin Laing and past Lack at 19:13 of the first frame.
Lack (6-7-3) kicked out 29 of 31 shots.
The Wolves return from a holiday break to take on the Peoria Rivermen in an Illinois Lottery Cup contest at 7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 26 at Carver Arena
