Wolves Doubled Up By Peoria Rivermen, 4-2
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill -- The Chicago Wolves and Peoria Rivermen traded goals through 40 minutes, but the Rivermen grabbed two third-period tallies to earn a 4-2 preseason victory Friday night at the Triphahn Community Center and Ice Arena.
Left wing Bill Sweatt scored both goals for Chicago, while right wing Darren Haydar and defensemen Brad Hunt and Zach Miskovic recorded assists.
Chicago (1-1-0-1) and Peoria (2-0-0-0) entered the third period deadlocked 2-2, but Rivermen left wing Jaden Schwartz scored a pair of unassisted tallies seven minutes apart to decide the outcome of the game.
Schwartz's first goal of the night came at the 12:24 mark of the final frame when he forced a turnover in front of the Wolves net and one-timed a shot past Chicago netminder Matt Climie. Schwartz iced the game for Peoria with 28 seconds remaining when he picked the pocket of a Wolves defender and snuck a shot through Climie's legs.
The Wolves opened scoring on the power play 6:14 into the first period when Sweatt held the puck in the far circle and snapped a shot over Rivermen goaltender Mike McKenna's glove.
Peoria tied the score at one when right wing Cody Beach snuck a pass through the crease to Phil McRae, who tapped home a shot past Climie.
Sweatt's second goal of the night gave the Wolves a 2-1 lead at 12:08 of the second period. His shot from the top of the slot deflected off a Rivermen defender and past McKenna.
McKenna (1-0-0) stopped 32 of 34 shots.
Peoria drew even when right wing Anthony Peluso tipped a shot past Climie at 18:33.
Climie (0-1-0) posted 31 shots in the loss.
The Wolves close out their preseason schedule with a game against the Milwaukee Admirals at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Milwaukee School of Engineering Kern Center.
--Chicago Wolves
