ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — The Chicago Wolves finally played a complete 60 minutes of hockey on Saturday night, winning the back end of consecutive road games against the Abbotsford Heat, 5-2. It was a sign Chicago may be making a turn and starting to make up the 11 points that separate the team from first place in the West Division.
The team dug themselves into a hole during an eight-game road trip brought on by scheduling conflicts at home with the circus. The Wolves returned with a seven game losing streak. Since then, the team has won seven of 10, with the highlight being a high scoring 10-8 loss against the Grand Rapids Griffins.
In the previous two outings, the Wolves could only muster a combined 29 shots on goal with 16 coming in Friday night’s 4-3 overtime loss. The 23 shots in the win was a little more bearable but the combined 39 infractions in this series was noteworthy. Of the seven goals scored, all but two were on the man-advantage.
The Wolves started the scoring during an extended period of play in the attacking zone. The puck popped out in front of goaltender Leland Irving as the Heat tried to clear the puck out of their corner. Angelo Esposito flew in at center on the line change and shoveled the puck in untouched.
A little over three minutes later, with the Wolves on the 5-on-3 advantage with a second left, center Andre Deveaux fired a one-timer from a cross-ice pass from Jason Krog that bounced off of Irving and into the net to put the Wolves up by two.
In the second, the Wolves were just about to kill a major penalty, but with 14 seconds left, winger Stefan Meyer backhanded a shot at a tough angle to get Abbotsford within one at the 8:19 mark. Wolves center Ryan Garbutt responded, posting himself in front of the net as Darren Haydar banked the puck that landed in the crease.
Chicago Captain Jason Krog assisted on a goal that gave Chicago a three goal lead at the end of the second period as he patiently handled the puck from the point. He eyed one player to his left but fired the puck to the right through four defenders to Nigel Dawes, who was sitting just outside the net. That little look froze the Heat allowing Dawes to sweep the puck on in with 6:08 left in the period.
In the final period, Abbotsford struck first to again cut the lead in half, just as the Heat’s 2-man advantage was just ending. Winger Greg Nemisz took advantage with Wolves netminder Peter Mannnino sprawled in front on the ice with a big open net for the easy goal with a minute gone in the period. But the Heat couldn’t get any closer. The Wolves finished the scoring on the power play as the Wolves battled the puck and kept it in the offensive zone. Mark Matheson slapped a raising puck towards the net where Deveaux was able to deflect on in for his second of the game to end the scoring at the 17:08 mark.
Both goaltenders kept their teams in the game with quality saves. Irving stopped 23 of the 28 he faced while Mannino went 29 on 31 shots for his win. His record stands at 9-6-0.
The two goals from Andre Deveaux tie him for the team lead at 11 with Darren Haydar and Spencer Machacek.
In converting three of eight power play chances, the Wolves continue to lead the league with a 23.9 percent conversion rate on the man advantage.
Contact the author at matt.chin@prohockeynews.com
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