Wolves Draw AHL Season Record Crowd, Fall To Bulldogs
ROSEMONT, Ill.---The Chicago Wolves drew an American Hockey League season-high 15,654 fans, but couldn't get their offense to spark as they fell 4-1 to the Hamilton Bulldogs at the Allstate Arena Saturday night.
Left wing Nigel Dawes scored the lone goal for Chicago (21-17-2-1) at 8:47 of the third period. Defenseman Mark Matheson held the puck behind the net and slipped it out to Dawes streaking into the crease for a quick tap past Hamilton goaltender Curtis Sanford.
Sanford (13-6-1) stymied all 15 of Chicago's other shots to pick up the win for the Bulldogs.
"They just dominated us," said Wolves Head Coach Don Lever. "We had gone into their building and beaten them twice and they were a desperate hockey team. They were very good tonight."
Hamilton (21-12-1-4) drew first blood, 13:18 into the opening period when center Dustin Boyd stole the puck at the blue line and took off on a breakaway before sending a shot zipping past Wolves goaltender Peter Mannino.
The Bulldogs pulled to 2-0 with a tally from J.T. Wyman, 41 seconds into the second period. The right wing took a pass from Andrew Conboy, walked into the Wolves zone and flung a shot past Mannino from high in the right face-off circle.
Hamilton inched ahead 3-0 on Wyman's second marker of the night at 9:25 of the middle frame. Mannino stopped Wyman's initial deflection from defenseman Brendon Nash's shot but the rebound bounced back to Wyman who slid the puck between Mannino's legs.
The Bulldogs made the score 4-0 at 5:59 of the third period when defenseman Kyle Klubertanz's shot from the point blazed through traffic in front of the net and past Mannino.
Mannino (12-9-1) posted 32 saves in the loss.
The Wolves hit the ice again on Sunday when they host the Toronto Marlies at the Allstate Arena at 3 p.m.
Hamilton 1 2 1 -- 4
Chicago 0 0 1 -- 1
First Period---1, Hamilton, Boyd 11 (St. Denis), 13:18 sh. Penalties---Festerling, Hamilton (interference), 12:45.
Second Period---2, Hamilton, Wyman 7 (Conboy, White), 0:41; 3, Hamilton, Wyman 8 (Nash, Henry), 9:25. Penalties---Pettersson, Chicago (slashing), 6:14; Krog, Chicago (tripping), 12:05; Maxwell, Hamilton (interference), 14:05; White, Hamilton (fighting), 17:15; Sifers, Chicago (fighting), 17:15;
Third Period---4, Hamilton, Klubertanz 5 (Maxwell), 5:59 pp; 5, Chicago, Dawes 19 (Matheson, Mannino), 8:47. Penalties---Klubertanz, Hamilton (tripping), 0:15; Siklenka, Chicago (hooking), 5:07; Carle, Hamilton (delay of game), 6:39; White, Hamilton (delay of game), 17:03;
Shots on goal---Hamilton: 13-10-13--36. Chicago: 5-3-8--16. Power plays---Hamilton: 1-3. Chicago: 0-5. Goalies---Hamilton, Sanford (15-16). Chicago, Mannino (32-36). A---15,654. Referee---David Banfield. Linesmen---Mike Hamilton and Al Stensland.
