Wolves fall to Rivermen, first-time scorers
PEORIA, Ill. -- It was a good night for first-time scorers. It was a worse one for the Chicago Wolves.
Three of the five goals scored in the Peoria Rivermen's 4-1 victory over their Illinois Lottery Cup rival Chicago Wolves were the players' first of the season. The game also marked goaltender Matt Climie's first loss of the year, coming just nine days after he manned the pipes for the Wolves' 2-1 overtime victory against Peoria.
Peoria goaltender Jake Allen stopped 32 of 33 shots. Climie blocked 29 of 33.
While the Wolves (4-2-0-0) special teams had a target on their back entering the game, with units posting a 4 percent power play efficiency and 72.7 percent penalty kill, their struggles in the third period took center stage.
Chicago opened the scoring near the beginning of the second period when center Jordan Schroeder capitalized off a Rivermen giveaway and a perfect cross-ice pass from Darren Haydar. The marker was Schroeder's first goal of the year, and was the first point for captain Haydar.
Holding their 1-0 lead through 40 minutes, the Wolves saw it disappear early in the third period. Prior to Friday's game, Chicago had allowed nine goals in that frame, six coming on the power play. They allowed four against Peoria.
A turnover early on by the Wolves became a wrist-shot goal by Anthony Peluso to tie the game at 2:54. Later, a Peoria two-on-one led to Evgeny Grachev's first goal of the season off a Climie rebound at 6:54. Then it was Derek Nesbitt's turn to get his first of the season at 11:49 to give Peoria a commanding 3-1 edge.
Jaden Schwartz also scored for Peoria.
