Iowa Wild edges out Chicago Wolves in 4th game of hockey playoffs
The Chicago Wolves fell into a two-goal deficit from which they could not quite recover as the Iowa Wild posted a 2-1 victory in Game 4 of the Central Division Finals on Wednesday night at Wells Fargo Arena.
Forward Curtis McKenzie scored in the third period for Chicago (5-4) while goaltender Oscar Dansk (4-3) recorded 20 saves as Iowa pulled even in the best-of-seven series.
The Wolves outshot the Wild 34-22 for the night, which included a 25-12 edge during the final 40 minutes. Gerald Mayhew scored both goals for Iowa (5-4) while captain Cal O’Reilly assisted on both tallies. Netminder Andrew Hammond (5-4) stopped 33 shots.
“I thought Oscar kept us relevant because of his good first period,” said Wolves head coach Rocky Thompson. “We gave up a lot of good opportunities in the first, but he held them to a one-goal game. We had a good second period for sure. I thought Hammond did a really good job. I really liked our pushback in the final 10 minutes.”
Mayhew opened up the scoring 13:01 into the first period when he cut in across the crease and sent a backhand past Dansk.
After a scoreless second period, Mayhew doubled the lead 5:25 into the third period when he pushed a loose puck through for a 2-0 lead.
McKenzie spoiled Hammond’s shutout bid at the 9:11 mark of the third, tipping a shot from defenseman Zac Leslie into the net to make it a one-goal game. The Wolves couldn’t muster the equalizer despite pulling Dansk for an extra attacker for the final two minutes.
The Wolves and the Wild meet for Game 5 at 7 p.m. Friday in Des Moines. The game will be streamed on AHLTV (TheAHL.com/AHLTV). The Wolves host Game 6 at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 13, and, if necessary, Game 7 on Wednesday, May 15. For ticket specials, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.
Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.
Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.
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