Power play goals lift Wolves to a 3-0 series lead


CHICAGO 4, TORONTO 1

Chicago tallied four power play goals on 10 opportunities en route to a 4-1 road win over Toronto on Tuesday at Ricoh Coliseum in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.

Joel Kwiatkowski posted a goal and an assist for the Wolves, who grabbed a commanding 3-0 series lead and can close out the Marlies in Game 4 on Wednesday night.

The Wolves struck first for the third time in as many games this series when defenseman Nathan Oystrick scored at 16:23 of the first period, with Darren Haydar and Kwiatkowski earning the helpers.

Toronto’s Chris Harrington evened the score at 6:53 of the second, but Chicago quickly regained the lead at 10:27 on Steve Martins’ second goal of postseason play.

Kwiatkowski and Jordan LaVallee added power play markers in the third period for the Wolves. LaVallee’s tally was his first of the playoffs.

Haydar finished with three assists on the night to give him 64 for his Calder Cup Playoff career, moving him ahead of Mike Nykoluk’s 62 for second place on the AHL’s all-time leaderboard in that category. Haydar now sits five playoff points shy of Willie Marshall’s record of 119.

Wolves rookie goaltender Ondrej Pavelec stopped 30 of 31 shots in the victory, which was Chicago’s fifth straight overall.

Chicago is one win away from advancing to the Calder Cup Finals for the third time in its history and first since 2005. The Wolves won the championship in 2002.