WOLVES WIN IN OVERTIME 4-3

Rockford comes from behind twice in regulation

Rosemont, Ill. - The Chicago Wolves certainly took advantage of IceHog penalties Thursday at the Allstate Arena.

But the IceHogs extend their consecutive games without a regulation loss to 15 (10-0-1-4) with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Wolves. The first place Hogs pick up a single point and stay ahead of Chicago by three in the West Division.

Brett Sterling put through a power-play goal at 4:06 in overtime to sink the Hogs. It was their first non-shootout loss since falling 8-3 to Chicago on Nov. 24. The Wolves had their heavy hitters on the ice on the advantage; Darren Haydar and Jason Krog were both credited with assists.

But it was a trio of firsts that kept the Rockford IceHogs close late in the game.

Danny Richmond put in his first goal of the season at 16:10 in the third to make the score 3-3 with assists from Colin Fraser and Derek Nesbitt.

In addition to his first AHL assist, Nesbitt scored his first AHL goal to tie the score at two in the second frame.

The winger put himself in the right place at the right time in his second game on a professional try-out with the Rockford IceHogs. He sniped a pass deep in Wolves territory and jabbed it over Ondrej Pavelec's right shoulder at 17:42 to tie the game at 2. The Gwinnett Gladiator is third in the ECHL with 39 points.

Krog, who leads the league in points, put the Wolves ahead for the second time in the game. The Wolves center pushed through his 13th goal of the season at 12:12 in the third period. Nathan Oystrick and Haydar were given the assits. In the three games against Rockford, Krog has gone 3g-4a-7p.

Jack Skille was responsible for the first IceHogs goal with assists from Richmond and Troy Bouwer on a power play at 16:42 in the same period.

To start the scoring in the wild second period, Steve Martins pushed through his 11th goal of the season with 31 seconds left on Gavin Morgan's slashing penalty to go ahead 1-0 at 8:19. Jesse Schultz and Bryan Little were given the assists.

And the Wolves jumped right back on the power play again thanks to a hooking call against Bryan Bickell on a delayed penalty.

But Oysrick put an end to that advantage with a goal at 9:52 with helpers from Krog and Sterling.

Rockford was without five of its top six point producers tonight. Martin St. Pierre, Petri Kontiola, Mike Blunden and Cam Barker remain with the Chicago Blackhawks and winger Kris Verteeg was a late scratch. Veteran defender Prestin Ryan and team captain Jim Fahey also sat out tonight as newcomers Nesbitt, Dusty Collins and Jean-Michel Daoust got a chance to show off their skills in the 'A.'

Next Home Game: Monday, Dec. 31 vs. Milwaukee Admirals. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. Welcome in the New Year with the IceHogs as they take on the Admirals at the MetroCentre. Come for the hockey and stick around for a post game concert as the IceHogs and 23WIFR-TV welcome Seven Mary Three to the MetroCentre.