The San Diego Gulls lost Game 1 of the American Hockey League’s Western Conference finals 5-4 to the Chicago Wolves Friday.
Chicago’s Cody Glass scored on a breakaway 14:03 into overtime in Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. The Wolves had forced the overtime on Nic Hague’s goal with 3:05 left in regulation.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series in the Calder Cup playoffs will be played Saturday.
The Gulls took a 4-3 lead with 9:17 to play on Maxime Comtois’ second goal of the game. He also scored with 1:09 left in the second period.
Defenseman Andy Welinski scored a power-play goal in the third period and assisted on Corey Tropp’s first-period goal for the Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks’ AHL affiliate.
The Gulls led in shots 44-28, including an 11-6 advantage in overtime, yet still fell short.
Both teams scored on one of two power-play opportunities before a crowd that was announced at 3,607.
Gulls goaltender Jeff Glass made 23 saves. Goaltender Oscar Dansk made 40 for Chicago, the Vegas Golden Knights’ AHL affiliate.
It was the third consecutive series the Gulls have gone into overtime in Game 1 and the fifth time in the playoffs overall that that team has gone into OT.
– City News Service