Wolves Can't Catch Up In Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Chicago Wolves dug a two-goal hole and couldn't escape during a 4-1 loss to the Milwaukee Admirals Wednesday night in an Amtrak Rivalry game at Bradley Center.
Left wing Dmitrij Jaskin delivered the lone goal for the Wolves (11-6-3-0), but not until Chicago trailed 2-0. Goaltender Matt Climie (5-4-2) rejected 20 of 23 shots, which included several top-flight saves, as the Wolves lost for the fourth time in five games.
Milwaukee's Pontus Aberg opened the scoring on a breakaway 15:05 into the first period. Defenseman Anthony Bitetto swiped a centering pass from the point and zipped a two-line pass to Aberg, who unfurled a deft backhand-forehand move on Climie to earn the goal.
The Admirals (12-4-0-1) made it 2-0 in the second period on another breakaway. A puck battle led to Milwaukee's Johan Alm swatting it off the boards and out of the defensive zone to an uncovered Richard Clune at the red line. Clune raced in unimpeded and wristed a shot past Climie's blocker at 14:13 of the second.
The Wolves chopped the lead in half at 16:35 of the second period as defenseman Brent Regner launched a slap shot from above the right circle and Jaskin flashed through the slot to redirect the puck past Milwaukee goaltender Marek Mazanec. Shane Harper also earned an assist on the play.
Milwaukee regained its two-goal lead on Miikka Salomaki's goal with 7:57 left on a play initiated by Felix Girard's sprint down the left side. Climie poked the puck away from Girard as he attacked the crease, but Salomaki was trailing right behind and grabbed the puck for a quick blast.
Austin Watson's empty-net goal concluded the scoring. Mazanec (6-4-0) stopped 22 of 23 shots to pick up the win.
The Wolves travel to Rockford at 7 p.m. Friday for an Illinois Lottery Cup contest before returning to Allstate Arena at 7 p.m. Saturday to host the IceHogs for another Illinois Lottery Cup contest. To get the best deals on tickets, call 1-800-THE-WOLVES or visit ChicagoWolves.com.
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