ROSEMONT, Ill. – Chicago forward Terry Broadhurst converted in the seventh round of the shootout to lift the Wolves to a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Admirals on Saturday night in an Amtrak Rivalry clash at Allstate Arena.
Broadhurst, Colin Fraser and Colton Parayko scored in regulation for the Wolves, who ensured they will open the Calder Cup Playoffs at home with Game 1 at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Game 2 at 7 p.m. Friday.
The Wolves (40-28-6-1) will determine during Sunday’s regular-season finale against Toronto whether they open with Utica or Grand Rapids in the Western Conference Quarterfinal.
“We had a real good game last night in Rockford,” said Wolves head coach John Anderson, who rested several regulars Saturday. “We competed like crazy. I thought we played well tonight. We had so many guys playing out of position, but I thought our effort was there.”
Milwaukee (33-28-8-7) started the scoring 13:42 into the game on Mark Van Guilder’s tap-in from just beyond the crease. Zach Budish set him up with a quick pass from behind the net.
The Wolves could not capitalize on a pair of 5-on-3 power plays in the middle of the second period, but evened the score on Parayko’s even-strength goal at 13:27 of the second. He claimed a puck along the right half-wall and banked a wrister off a Milwaukee defender.
The tie lasted for just 14 seconds as the Admirals’ Viktor Arvidsson slipped a wraparound goal past Wolves goaltender Jordan Binnington’s right skate at 13:41.
Chicago earned another tie with 6.6 seconds left in the second on Broadhurst’s goal. Rookie Robby Fabbri flipped a saucer pass from the right circle into the slot for the speeding Broadhurst, who chipped the puck past Milwaukee goaltender Marek Mazanec’s blocker to make it 2-2.
Milwaukee took its third lead of the night when Colton Sissons banged home a goal from just outside the crease 49 seconds into the third period.
The Wolves answered with Fraser’s breakaway goal at 3:41. He broke up a pass in the defensive zone, raced just ahead of two Admirals, and banked a shot off the right post for his ninth of the year.
Binnington (25-15-4) stopped 38 of 41 shots during regulation and overtime and all seven shootout attempts to earn the win. Mazanec (18-18-9) made 34 saves in regulation and overtime.
With Wolves game report
contact the photographer: patrick.gorski@prohockeynews.com
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