Wolves Stay Hot, Defeat Rivermen 2-1 In Overtime
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The Chicago Wolves and Peoria Rivermen each scored a goal in regulation, but defenseman Zach Miskovic bagged the game-winning marker 2:59 into overtime to lift the Wolves to a 2-1 Illinois Lottery Cup victory Wednesday night at the Allstate Arena.
Right wing Zack Kassian also scored for Chicago, which has opened the season with three straight wins for just the third time in franchise history.
"We were doing such a good job on the penalty kill and they were able to get one right as the minor was expiring," said Wolves head coach Scott Arniel. "But I like how we regrouped and were able to get the winner in overtime."
Miskovic earned the extra point for the Wolves when he took a pass in the high slot and wristed home a shot over the glove of Rivermen goaltender Jake Allen at 2:59 of the extra session.
Chicago (3-0-0-0) opened scoring on the power play at 13:51 of the first period. Defenseman Derek Joslin fed the puck behind the net to Kassian, who flicked the puck toward the crease where it hit off the skate of a Peoria defenseman and past Allen.
Allen (0-3-0) stopped 24 shots in regulation and overtime.
Peoria (0-2-1-0) knotted the score at one with a power-play goal at 12:40 of the third period. Right wing Derek Nesbitt held the puck below the near circle and sent a pass across the crease to center T.J. Hensick, who buried the puck past Wolves goaltender Matt Climie.
Climie (1-0-0) kicked out 30 shots in regulation and overtime to earn the win.
The Wolves travel to British Columbia for two tilts against the Abbotsford Heat, starting with a 9 p.m. game on Friday.
Peoria 0 0 1 0 -- 1
Chicago 1 0 0 1 -- 2
First Period---1, Chicago, Kassian 1 (Joslin, Schroeder), 13:51 pp. Penalties---Ford, Peoria (interference), 9:47; Fairchild, Peoria (interference), 13:38.
Second Period---None. Penalties---Kassian, Chicago (high-sticking), 4:08; Andronov, Peoria (hooking), 6:45; Connauton, Chicago (interference), 13:41; Murray, Peoria (holding), 14:42; Bench, Peoria (too many men), 15:46.
Third Period---2, Peoria, Hensick 1 (Nesbitt, Schwartz), 12:40 pp. Penalties---Andersson, Chicago (interference), 2:27; Pinizzotto, Chicago (hooking), 10:41; Kassian, Chicago (slashing), 13:32;
Overtime---3, Chicago, Miskovic 1 (Gordon, Sterling), 2:59. Penalties---None.
Shots on goal---Peoria: 8-8-15-0--31. Chicago: 5-8-9-3--25. Power plays---Peoria: 1-5. Chicago: 1-5. Goalies---Peoria, Allen (23-25). Chicago, Climie (30-31). A---3,199. Referees---Tim Mayer and Jarrod Ragusin. Linesmen---John Grandt and Alex Stagnone.
