Short-Handed Wolves Fall In Overtime To Milwaukee

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The Chicago Wolves earned a point for the seventh consecutive game, but Milwaukee claimed a 3-2 overtime win Saturday night in a physical Amtrak Rivalry game at Allstate Arena.

Admirals center Austin Watson's backhander filtered through goaltender Matt Climie's legs for the game-winner with 22 seconds remaining in extra time. Forwards Shane Harper and Ty Rattie delivered goals for the Wolves (28-16-4-2), who lost two defensemen and one forward to injury during the course of the game.

"It was tough to go down to four defensemen but we battled hard," said Wolves head coach John Anderson. "I was happy we got a point out of the game, but we need to be ready to go again tomorrow."

Milwaukee (23-15-6-5) opened the scoring at 15:17 of the first period. Climie rejected Watson's shot from close range, but the rebound went to Filip Forsberg just outside of the crease. Forsberg used his reach to steer the puck around Climie's left pad into the net.

The Wolves pulled even just 31 seconds later as Rattie's slap shot from the left point banked off a Milwaukee defender and past goaltender Hannu Toivonen into the crease. Wolves center Adam Cracknell's skate stopped the puck's momentum inches from the goal line, so Harper zipped in to tap it home for his second goal in as many nights.

Rattie gave the Wolves a 2-1 lead at 1:20 of the second period with a highlight-reel goal. David Shields wristed the puck from the left point off a Milwaukee forward and the carom flew toward the left circle. Rattie tracked the puck while gliding backward and took a full cut when the puck was thigh-high and one-hopped it past Toivonen.

The Admirals made it 2-2 at 6:48 of the second when Vinny Saponari fed Colton Sissons on a 2-on-1 and Sissons lifted his unchallenged wrister over Climie's glove.

Climie (6-9-0) stopped 23 of 26 shots for the Wolves while Toivonen (1-0-1) rejected 28 of 30 attempts to pick up the win.

The Wolves still have four home games remaining in February with the next one at 3 p.m. Sunday against Milwaukee.

--Chicago Wolves