ROSEMONT, Ill. – It was a goaltending clinic on Thursday evening between the Iowa Wild and the Chicago Wolves, as both Alex Lyon and Dereck Baribeau were spectacular. However, when the final buzzer sounded, Lyon had been the better of the two, leading the Wolves to a 2-0 victory over Iowa. The Chicago netminder stopped all 30 shots he faced while Baribeau saved 35. The loss was the third in the last four games for the Wild.
Chicago jumped out in front just 1:57 into the contest. David Gust passed the puck back to the point where Jesper Sellgren fired a slapshot. Baribeau was able to get his blocker out to deflect it, but could not get enough of it as the puck went in, giving Sellgren his first tally of the year.
The Wolves had totally dominated the first period, outshooting the Wild 15-1. The only shot of the frame came off the stick of Adam Beckman at 6:57, then Iowa was completely dominated as Chicago took the final nine shots of the period.
The Wild began to put the pressure on in the second, outshooting the Wolves, 13-7. However, Lyon had his opportunity to shine, and he was spectacular in the frame. Neither team could light the lamp in the second period, moving the contest to the third with Chicago still leading by a goal.
However, the Wolves extended their lead, scoring 1:18 into the third period to give themselves a little breathing room. Sam Miletic intercepted a pass in the neutral zone, sending him toward Baribeau on a breakaway. Miletic made a move like he was going to his backhand before sliding the puck between the legs of the Iowa goaltender for his second goal of the season.
The third was a wild frame, as Iowa outshot the Wolves, 16-15. Both teams had several opportunities to capitalize, but the two goaltenders were spectacular. Iowa pulled Baribeau with just over two minutes left in the contest, and had a couple of great scoring chances in the final minute, including one with under 10 seconds left in the game.
Matt Boldy fired a shot that Lyon saved, but the rebound came right to Nick Swaney, who looked like he would tuck it in, but the Chicago netminder was able to get his pad over to make the save, preserving the shutout.
Lyon stopped all 30 shots he faced, moving his record to 5-1-1 and lowering his goals-against average to 1.68. The shutout was his first of the season. Baribeau played very well for the Wild, stopping 35 of 37 shots. However, he would be the tough-luck loser, dropping his record to 4-5-0.
These teams now shift to Des Moines, where they will face off on Saturday. The puck drops at 6:00.
