The Chicago Wolves are one win away from a Western Conference title after a 5-2 win in San Diego on Saturday night.
Chicago heads back home with a 3-2 series lead, and can advance to the Calder Cup Finals with a victory in Game 6 on Monday evening.
Daniel Carr scored the tiebreaking goal with 5:24 gone in the third period and the Wolves shut down the Gulls’ high-powered offense, holding San Diego to 21 shots on goal for the contest.
Max Lagace (2-1) made 19 saves for Chicago, and also became the first goaltender in AHL history to be credited with a goal in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Lagace was the last Wolves player to touch the puck before Isac Lundestrom sent it into the Gulls’ vacant net during a delayed penalty with 9:11 remaining, upping the Wolves’ lead to 4-2.
Tomas Hyka and Tye McGinn notched a goal and an assist each for Chicago, Cody Glass scored his sixth goal of the postseason and Zach Whitecloud notched two assists.
Adam Cracknell and Jacob Larsson scored for the Gulls, who lost in regulation for the first time since Game 2 of their first-round series with San Jose on Apr. 18.
Kevin Boyle (3-2) stopped 22 of 25 shots for San Diego.
Western Conference Finals – Series “N” (best-of-7)
C1-Chicago Wolves vs. P3-San Diego Gulls
Game 1 – Fri., May 17 – CHICAGO 5, San Diego 4 (OT) | Recap/Highlights
Game 2 – Sat., May 18 – San Diego 3, CHICAGO 0 | Recap/Highlights
Game 3 – Wed., May 22 – SAN DIEGO 3, Chicago 2 | Recap/Highlights
Game 4 – Fri., May 24 – Chicago 2, SAN DIEGO 1 (2OT)
Game 5 – Sat., May 25 – Chicago 5, SAN DIEGO 2
Game 6 – Mon., May 27 – San Diego at Chicago, 8:00, AHLTV
*Game 7 – Wed., May 29 – San Diego at Chicago, 8:00, AHLTV
*if necessary… All times Eastern
