ROSEMONT, Ill. — In Game One of the West Division Semifinals, the Chicago Wolves gave up three-goal leads twice in their win over the Milwaukee Admirals. Tonight the Wolves kept it at three as the defeated the Admirals 3-0 to take a two game to none lead in the series.
Wolves goaltender Peter Mannino was back in net and had a stellar evening stopping every shot he faced on his way to his first playoff shutout. “It was a typical playoff game, no one was giving an inch,” said Wolves Head Coach Don Lever. “We got the break with that second goal and were able to hold on.”
The first period was difficult for either team to get any momentum with their offensive lines as ten penalties were call with six going to Milwaukee. But with a minute and ten seconds left, winger Spencer Machacek was able to take possession of the puck and took a shot in front of the net the deflected on in off a defender’s stick.
With so much going on in the first, the second was pretty evenly played by both as only two penalties were called with both going to Milwaukee which had no affect on any change to the score going into the third.
In the third, the Wolves took control of the puck right off the faceoff. Defenseman Arturs Kulda settled the puck down after receiving it, took two steps to find a clear path and fired it towards the net. A scrum of players rushed towards the crease as Milwaukee’s net minder Mark Dekanich tried to jump on top of the puck but center Johnny Pohl was able to scrap the puck in to the back of the net 8:06 into the period.
The Wolves then wrapped up the scoring as right wing Joey Crabb skated along the far boards with the puck who passed it to fellow winger Tim Stapleton who was following in the slot where he pulled the trigger for Chicago’s third goal of the night.
Both net minders returned in net for tonight’s game after the high scoring affair on Wednesday night. Mannino stopped all 23 shots while Dekanich stopped 28 of the 31 he faced.
There was a whole lot of hockey going on in Chicago. While the Wolves were playing in the Allstate Arena, the Chicago Blackhawks were playing in the United Center with ironically Milwaukee parent club, the Nashville Predators. The Admirals didn’t match up as the Predators shocked the Blackhawks with at 4-1 victory to take Game One in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Three Stars were: Johnny Pohl (Chicago), Third Star with one goal; Spencer Machacek (Chicago) with the game-winning goal; and Peter Mannino (Chicago) with the shutout.
West Division Semifinal – Series “G” (best-of-7)
W1-Chicago Wolves vs. W4-Milwaukee Admirals Game 1 – Wed., Apr. 14 – Milwaukee 5 at Chicago 6 Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 16 – Milwaukee 0 at Chicago 3 Game 3 – Sat., Apr. 17 – Chicago at Milwaukee, 7:00 Game 4 – Mon., Apr. 19 – Chicago at Milwaukee, 7:00 *Game 5 – Wed., Apr. 21 – Milwaukee at Chicago, 7:00 *Game 6 – TBA – Chicago at Milwaukee, 7:00 *Game 7 – Mon., Apr. 26 – Milwaukee at Chicago, 7:00
Chicago Wolves leads series 2-0
Contact Matt.Chin@prohockeynews.com
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