Straight-shooting Sharrow leads Wolves

Defenseman Jimmy Sharrow scored his first two career AHL goals, including the tie-breaker with 4:53 left in regulation, as Chicago won its third in a row, 5-3 over Milwaukee at the Bradley Center on Sunday evening.

With the victory, Chicago closed to within four points of fourth-place Omaha in the West Division, where the top four teams will qualify for the 2006 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Sharrow’s first tally capped a three-goal first period for the Wolves. Derek MacKenzie opened the scoring just 15 seconds into the game, and Ramzi Abid added his team-leading 27th goal of the season.

The Admirals evened things up on goals by Chris Durno, Libor Pivko and Kevin Klein. Darren Haydar assisted on all three markers.

Sharrow, a 21-year-old rookie and 2003 fourth-round draft choice, picked up two of Chicago’s three power-play goals on the evening. Colin Stuart finished things off with a shorthanded empty-netter.

Michael Garnett recorded 22 saves for the Wolves.

Elsewhere on Sunday:

Jeff Hamilton‘s second goal of the game came 64 seconds into overtime, giving Bridgeport a 2-1 win over visiting Lowell

Layne Ulmer recorded a goal and two assists and David LeNeveu registered 44 saves as San Antonio doubled up division-leading Houston, 4-2

Jiri Hudler scored twice and added an assist as Grand Rapids thumped Rochester, 6-1

Gavin Morgan‘s hat trick provided the margin of victory as Peoria beat Omaha, 5-2

Garett Bembridge tallied two goals in Portland’s 6-2 win over Springfield

Dan Ellis stopped 33 shots for Iowa as the Stars shot past Manitoba, 3-1

Krys Kolanos (2g, 2a) and Paul Healey (2g, 1a) paced Lowell to a 6-0 victory over Albany

Jordan Sigalet made 26 saves as Providence rallied from two goals down to beat Hershey in a shootout, 3-2

Kris Newbury, Ben Ondrus and John Pohl scored third-period goals as Toronto defeated Philadelphia, 4-1

Barry Brust stopped 38 shots as Manchester beat Binghamton, 3-1