Wolves Rally To Beat Admirals 4-1

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Chicago Wolves rallied for four third-period goals, including a pair from leading scorer Shane Harper, to produce a 4-1 victory over Milwaukee on Friday night at the Bradley Center.

Not only did the Wolves (38-26-6-1) cut their magic number to 4 for a Calder Cup playoff berth, they clinched the Amtrak Rivalry trophy with their seventh win over the Admirals in the rivals' 12-game series.

Goaltender Jordan Binnington posted 39 saves, including multiple stops on breakaways, to buy time until Chicago ramped up the offense and picked up its first win this season when trailing after two periods.

Milwaukee (33-28-7-6) opened the scoring 8:59 into the game as right wing Viktor Arvidsson, recently named to the AHL's all-rookie team, capitalized on a Wolves turnover and blistered a wrister off the crossbar and in for his 20^th goal of the year.

The Wolves made it 1-1 just 2:20 into the third on Doty's second goal with the Wolves. Defenseman Jani Hakanpaa rushed the puck up the ice, rebounded his own blocked shot and carried it beneath the goal line. When Hakanpaa noticed Doty battling for position outside the crease with his stick on the ice, he saucered a pass that Doty redirected past Admirals goaltender Marek Mazanec.

Chicago gained the lead on Harper's power-play goal at 10:40 as the team took advantage of a high-sticking double minor on Mark Van Guilder. Brent Regner worked the puck to Magnus Paajarvi at the right faceoff dot. He punched a pass toward the crease and Harper swooped in to redirect it over the sprawling Mazanec's glove.

Paajarvi set up Harper again for an insurance goal with 2:25 to play. Paajarvi raced out of the defensive zone with the puck, angled toward the right circle and dropped a pass back to Harper for a one-timer rifled over Mazanec's glove.

When Milwaukee pulled Mazanec after the ensuing faceoff, Cracknell took advantage with an empty-net goal from the defensive left circle with 2:07 to play to ensure the Wolves' ninth win in their last 10 games.

Binnington (23-14-4) tied his professional best with 39 saves. Mazanec (18-18-8) stopped 30 of 33 shots.

The Wolves have just four regular-season home games remaining, which includes a 7 p.m. game Saturday against Oklahoma City and a 4 p.m. game Sunday against Iowa.

 -- Chicago Wolves