ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Wolves settled for a split of their weekend series with the Marlies after Toronto skated to a 4-2 victory at Allstate Arena on Sunday.
Gavin Bayreuther and Skyler Brind’Amour scored, but the Wolves fell short in the second of back-to-back games between the teams. Alex Nylander scored twice to help the Marlies snap a four-game losing skid. The Wolves, who triumphed 4-1 on Saturday evening, fell for the third time in their last four games.
“We’d like to get a few more top-line chances and get to the net a little more,” Brind’Amour said. “I thought our play was there, especially in the third period, and we just have to build on that.”
Toronto scored the only goal of the opening period when Nylander converted on the power play 3 minutes, 59 seconds into the game.
Bayreuther’s score midway through the second lifted the Wolves to a 1-1 draw. The veteran defenseman controlled the puck in the Marlies zone before unleashing a wrist shot from the top of the right circle that sailed past Toronto netminder Artur Akhtyamov to the stick side. Felix Unger Sorum and Justin Robidas earned assists on Bayreuther’s third goal of the season.
The Marlies extended the lead with a second-period goal from Brandon Baddock and another Nylander marker early in the third.
Wolves did not give up and made it a one-goal deficit after Brind’Amour’s second goal of the season – and second in as many games. With the Wolves on the power play, Brind’Amour redirected a one-timer from Ronan Seeley’s point that slid past Akhtyamov to the glove side.
Reese Johnson’s empty netter in the waning moments sealed the deal for the Marlies.
“We know what it takes to be successful and now it’s about lasting the full 60 minutes,” said Brind’Amour.
Nikita Quapp (20 saves) suffered the loss in goal for the Wolves, while Akhtyamov (36 saves) earned the win for the Marlies.
Chicago fell to 4-3-1-0 this season, while Toronto is at 4-4-0-1.
Related
#Marlies #doubles #Wolves #Pro #Hockey #News