December 12, 2017

Captain Paul Thompson netted the game-winning goal with less than two seconds on the clock and the Chicago Wolves edged the Rockford IceHogs 2-1 in Game 4 of the Illinois Lottery Cup series Tuesday night at BMO Harris Bank Center.

Goaltender Max Lagace (3-2-0) made 34 saves in his first game with the Wolves since being returned on loan by the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday.

The Wolves (8-12-4-1), who have won three of their last four, scored just 5:03 into the opening frame when a rebound redirected right to Brandon Pirri in the slot and he chipped the puck into the wide-open net for the 1-0 lead.

After a scoreless second period, Rockford (15-10-1-0) won a faceoff in the Wolves zone and got the puck back to Carl Dahlstrom for a shot from the left point that Anthony Louis tipped in front of the net for the 1-1 equalizer at 7:32 of the third session.

On the final rush of the game for the Wolves, Thompson entered the zone and wired a shot from high in the slot that glanced off goaltender Jeff Glass’ shoulder and into the top of the cage for the game-winning goal with 1.8 seconds on the clock.

Lagace earned his third win in a Wolves sweater while Glass (8-3-1) stopped 30 of 32 shots.

The Wolves wrap up a four-game road trip on Friday, Dec. 15, against the Grand Rapids Griffins at Van Andel Arena. Puck drop is 6 p.m. and the game will be televised on The U Too.