CHICAGO 5, ROCKFORD 4
Chicago struck for three goals in the third period to climb out of a 4-2 deficit and emerge with its first win of the season, a 5-4 decision over visiting Rockford on Wednesday at Allstate Arena. Matt Anderson netted a pair of goals for the Wolves, including the game-winner late in the third period.
The IceHogs built their 4-2 advantage on the strength of goals from Danny Bois and Mark Cullen in the first period, Akim Aliu in the middle stanza, and Rob Klinkhammer just 1:51 into the third frame.
But Wolves second-year pro Spencer Machacek and rookie defenseman Paul Postma each scored on the power play just 2:03 apart to knot the score at 4-4. That set the stage for Anderson’s game-winning tally with 3:11 to play in regulation.
Anderson also registered a first-period power play goal for Chicago, and Tim Stapleton rounded out the home team’s offense. Postma finished with a goal and two helpers for the Wolves, who went 3-for-6 on the power play after entering the contest 1-for-12 for the season.
Chicago goaltender Manny Legace picked up the win in his Wolves debut with 31 saves on 35 shots, helping his club improve to 1-3-0-0 on the campaign.
MANITOBA 5, ABBOTSFORD 4 (SO)
Guillaume Desbiens’s goal in the fifth shootout round lifted Manitoba to a 5-4 win over Abbotsford in a wild affair at the MTS Centre on Wednesday.
The game was tied at 1-1 entering the third period before the teams combined for six goals – three apiece – in an 11:10 span to close regulation.
Sergei Shirokov paced the Moose with a goal and two helpers, while Marco Rosa, Mario Bliznak, and Desbiens also scored in regulation time. Rosa joined Desbiens in converting a shootout attempt for Manitoba.
The Heat trailed 4-1 after surrendering an unassisted shorthanded goal to Bliznak at 11:05 of the third. But Jamie Lundmark and Colin Stuart each stuck on the power play just 34 seconds apart to make it 4-3, and Lundmark tied the contest with 44 ticks left in regulation.
Jason Jaffray added his third goal in as many games for the Heat, who received their lone shootout marker from Kris Chucko.
Moose goaltender Cory Schneider emerged with the win after stopping four straight shootout tries after Chucko’s first-round conversion. Schneider made 34 saves through the first 65 minutes.
ALBANY 3, NORFOLK 1
Albany scored three unanswered goals to skate away with a 3-1 win over visiting Norfolk at the Times Union Center on Wednesday.
Brandon Bochenski put the Admirals on top first when he lit the lamp at 12:42 of the opening period. Ryan Craig and Radek Smolenak assisted Bochenski, who has netted three of Norfolk’s five goals on the season.
Albany battled back in the second period, receiving markers from Steven Goertzen and Stefan Chaput to take a 2-1 edge into the final 20 minutes. Jerome Samson buried his third goal of the campaign into an empty net in the closing minute to seal the victory.
River Rats goaltender Justin Peters earned the win in net with 37 saves on 38 shots.
Albany has now won three straight games by a combined margin of 14-4 since dropping its season opener to Manchester by a 6-3 final on Oct. 3.
MILWAUKEE 5, PEORIA 2
Five different players scored as Milwaukee took a 5-2 road win over Peoria on Wednesday at Carver Arena, avenging a 4-3 shootout loss to the Rivermen last Friday.
The Admirals came strong out of the gate, holding a 12-4 shots advantage in the first period and taking a 2-0 lead on goals by Jonathan Blum – his first as a pro – and defenseman Cody Franson, who scored on the power play.
Milwaukee extended its lead to 3-0 on a power play tally by Dave Scatchard 4:17 into the middle frame before Peoria’s Nicholas Drazenovic put his team on the board with his first of the campaign at 7:52.
Milwaukee’s Andreas Thuresson and Peoria’s Derek Armstrong traded goals in the closing minute of the second frame, and Admirals forward Ben Eaves notched the lone marker for either side in the third period.
Cal O’Reilly picked up four assists for the Admirals and now has seven helpers through three games this year. Goaltender Mark Dekanich stopped 22 of 24 shots in the winning effort.
