Wolves-IceHogs (photo credit: Greg Hamil)
ROSEMONT, Ill. — The Chicago Wolves could only muster one goal and allowed two power-play strikes as the Rockford IceHogs earned a 2-1 Illinois Lottery Cup contest Sunday afternoon at the Allstate Arena.
Defenseman Kevin Connauton potted the Wolves lone tally and goaltender Matt Climie stopped 28 shots for the Wolves, who have lost five of their last six contests.
“We weren’t ready to go tonight,” said Wolves head coach Scott Arniel. “We can’t take four minor penalties in the first and expect to get the start we want.”
Rockford (32-28-1-1) opened scoring with just one second remaining in the opening period. Left wing Jeremy Morin whipped an across-ice pass to center Martin St. Pierre, who beat the clock and Climie (16-18-3) from the near circle at 19:59.
Chicago (29-21-5-4) drew even with the IceHogs when Connauton’s blast from the near point snuck past Rockford goaltender Henrik Karlsson at 8:01 of the second period.
Karlsson (6-3-0) stopped 19 shots.
The IceHogs potted the game’s final tally with a power-play marker at 14:26 of the middle frame. Morin jumped on a loose puck and his shot hit off Climie’s leg pads, then trickled over the goal line.
The Wolves will look to snap a three-game winless streak when they host the Toronto Marlies at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 22, at the Allstate Arena.
Chicago Wolves
