Big Win; Wolves 5, Omaha 4

A big win by the Chicago Wolves as they enter the final month of the regular season, 5-4 overtime over the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights last night in Omaha.

Chicago took advantage of the few power play opportunities presented in the game, taking two of five man advantages to the net. However Omaha came from behind in the third frame to light the lamp three times to just one Chicago answer, to tie the game. Then it was Nathan Oystrick, just 17 seconds into overtime who put the game away once and for all for the Wolves.

Dustin Boyd put the Knights on the board halfway into the first period when he received a pass from Brad Ference for a backhand shot past Michael Garnett. In the second period the Knights got into penalty problems leading Brett Sterling to feed pucks to Darren Haydar for two power play goals, one at 3.24 into the period and the second less than a minute later.

A series of fight penalties were assessed at 6.31 into the period as Andre Deveaux and Kevin Doell mixed it up with Bradon Prust and David Van der Gulik. Van der Gulik and Deveaux received a 10 minute misconduct as well as Doell, Prust and Van der Gulik receiving five minute fighting penalties and minor penalties for the brawl. A bench penalty was served by Knight Justin Taylor. The remainder of the period passed quietly with the Wolves up 2-1. Then, with less than a minute in the period, Sterling forced a turnover in the Knights defensive zone. He passed to Jason Krog, who returned the puck to Sterling for his third point of the night, allowing the period to expire Wolves 3-1.

In the third frame, Omaha scored at 43 seconds on a goal by Cam Cunning. Jordan Lavallee replied for the Wolves off of a wrap around rebound making it 4-2 Wolves. Then Omaha scored two additional goals, the first by Kris Chucko and the second by Carsen Germyn at 14.52, tying the game 4-4.

In the overtime period, Oystrick picked a pass from Darren Haydar, putting the puck on Knights goalie Curtis McElhinney’s glove, but it tipped off and in for the win.

Garnett received the win with 24 saves, McElhinney the loss with 39 saves. The win puts the Wolves four points ahead of the Knights, with the Knights having three games in hand. There are just 12 games left in the regular season for the Wolves, 15 for the Knights.

The Wolves face the Milwaukee Admirals at the Allstate Arena this evening.

In the UHL, the Rockford IceHogs lost Friday night to the Kalamazoo K-Wings 4-2, while the first place Fort Wayne Komets defeated the Port Huron Flags 5-2, putting the Komets two points ahead of the IceHogs in the standings. The IceHogs face the Komets tonight in Fort Wayne.