Wolves 3, Bulldogs 0
Southern Ontario was pounded by a blizzard Friday morning, but that didn't prevent the Chicago Wolves from going into Hamilton and blanking the Hamilton Bulldogs 3-0 at Copps Coliseum Friday night in an AHL game.
Wolves goaltender Matt Climie got the shutout.
The Wolves (23-15-3-2) took command early by scoring two quick goals. Forward Michael Davies lit the lamp first just 2:51 into the game, getting behind the Hamilton defense and beating goaltender Cedrick Desjardins up top to make it 1-0.
Just 38 seconds later, defenseman Kevin Connauton stood on Desjardins' doorstep and took a pass from the corner of the Bulldogs zone, tipping the puck into the net to extend the team's early lead to 2-0.
The Wolves held that advantage through the end of the first period. Chicago out-shot Hamilton (15-24-1-5) 12-5 in the first 20 minutes.
Chicago made it 3-0 when Davies skated cleanly into the Bulldogs zone and rifled a wrister from the top of the circle right past Desjardians 2:28 into the period.
After earning a hat trick during Tuesday's game, Chicago captain Darren Haydar scored three penalties through the game's first two periods. The two clubs had over 40 penalty minutes combined.
Climie (11-11-1) remained solid in net, stopping all 22 shots he faced and leading Chicago to its second straight victory. It was the netminder's third shutout of the season, and the first one that did not come against the Abbotsford Heat. Prior to Friday night's matchup he had been out of the Wolves lineup since mid-January.
Chicago will head to Toronto for a matinee tilt Saturday versus the Marlies.
