IOWA OPENS JANUARY WITH 5-2 LOSS TO CHICAGO
Jan 3, 2023
ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Chicago Wolves took a two goal lead early in Tuesday evening’s contest against the Iowa Wild and ultimately held off the visitors, taking a 5-2 win at Allstate Arena. Sammy Walker had a goal and an assist for the Wild while Joe Hicketts assisted on both Iowa goals.
Chicago opened the scoring at 6:03 of the first period when Alexander Pashin banked a shot off the helmet of Zane McIntyre (22 saves) and in from below the goal line.
The Wolves doubled their lead 2:12 later when Ryan Suzuki finished the rebound of an Alex Green shot.
Chicago carried a 2-0 lead and a 14-9 shot advantage into the first intermission.
Marco Rossi put the Wild on the scoreboard at 6:31 of the second period. Walker dropped a pass to Hicketts at the blue line, who fired a wrister that Rossi tipped past Zachary Sawchenko (27 saves).
The Wolves regained their two-goal lead at 14:33 of the second period when Noel Gunler chipped a puck behind McIntyre on the power play.
Iowa outshot Chicago 9-6 in the second period and trailed the Wolves 3-1 after 40 minutes.
Brandon Perlini extended Chicago’s lead to 4-1 seven seconds into the third period. Josh Melnick forced a turnover and found Perlini in the high slot for a snap shot over McIntyre.
Walker made it a two-goal game at 12:31 of the third period on the power play. Steven Fogarty poked the rebound of a Hicketts shot under Sawchenko, and Walker shoveled it by the Wolves netminder for his second point of the contest.
Melnick closed the door for the Wolves, scoring a shorthanded empty-net goal with 2:08 remaining to seal the 5-2 victory.
Iowa outshot Chicago 29-27. The Wild and the Wolves both went 1-for-2 with the man advantage.
The Iowa Wild return to Wells Fargo Arena to face the Rockford IceHogs on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 6:00 p.m.
Iowa Wild hockey is presented by MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. For more information, please visit www.iowawild.com. Fans can purchase single-game tickets through the team’s website at www.iowawild.com. Group tickets (10 or more), suites, Wild memberships or premium tickets can be purchased by contacting the Iowa Wild Ticket Department at 515-564-8700 or tickets@iowawild.com. The 2022-23 season marks the 10th anniversary of Iowa Wild hockey. Fans can purchase season tickets for the 10th anniversary season at https://www.iowawild.com/wild-365.
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