ROSEMONT, Ill. – Andrew Agozzino netted his second overtime goal of the season to give the Chicago Wolves a 4-3 victory and the Central Division title in the regular-season finale against the Charlotte Checkers Saturday night at Allstate Arena.
The Wolves (44-19-8-5), who rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the final seven minutes of regulation, earned their fourth division title in eight years. Additionally, they will face the Checkers (39-29-7-1) in the Central Division Semifinals of the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs that begin on Thursday, April 20. A full series schedule will be announced soon.
The Checkers opened scoring 1:31 into the first frame when Patrick Dwyer corralled a puck in Charlotte’s defensive end and skated up the right wing through the neutral zone. At the blue line, he cut to the slot and snapped a chance through a crowd for the 1-0 lead.
Just 2:15 later – following a delay-of-game penalty against the Wolves – defenseman Jake Chelios ripped a shot from the center point to put the Checkers up by a pair of goals.
Past the midway point of the same period, Agozzino led the rush, skating up the left wing. From the same-side hashmarks, he saucered a pass to Wade Megan waiting just inside the right circle for a one-time chance that cut Charlotte’s lead in half. Megan’s 33rd goal of the season gave him the AHL’s goal-scoring title.
After a scoreless second session, the Checkers pushed their lead back to two goals, 3-1, at 7:26 of the third period. Phil Di Giuseppe capitalized on a Wolves defensive zone turnover in the slot.
The Wolves pulled back within a goal at 13:28 when Samuel Blais carried the puck into the right offensive corner. Up on the play, Dunn knocked down a defender, and Blais wired a pass to Chris Butler at the left point. Butler walked the blue line before lasering a chance through a crowd. The puck pinballed to Jordan Caron standing at the right side of the net, and he stuffed it behind Tom McCollum (12-2-4).
Blais then evened the game 3-3 under two minutes later. Defenseman Jake Walman fed Blais a short pass near the right wall in the neutral zone, and Blais streaked through three Charlotte players, going backhand-to-forehand for the equalizing tally.
During the 3-on-3 extra session, Patrick Brown took a interference call at 2:22. Skating 4-on-3, the Wolves cycled the puck and at 3:41, Agozzino snapped in the game-winning goal from the top of the left circle.
Jordan Binnington (16-7-8) made 31 saves to finish the season with 16 victories while McCollum turned aside 23 shots in the loss.
You must be logged in to post a comment.