Wild 5, Wolves 4 (SO)
DES MOINES, Iowa --- In their first trip to Des Moines since 2009, the Chicago Wolves dropped their first shootout of the season Thursday night, falling 5-4 to the Iowa Wild in an AHL game at the Wells Fargo Arena.
Four players scored in regulation and five posted multi-point games for Chicago (3-3-0-1), which notched season highs in goals and shots (37). Wolves goaltender Jake Allen made 27 saves.
Forwards Shane Harper and Keith Aucoin and defensemen David Shields and Brent Regner scored for Chicago. Tyler Graovac, Raphael Bussieres, Brett Bulmer and Kris Foucault tallied for Iowa (4-1-0-0).
The Wolves scored on three of six shootout chances while the Wild capitalized on four, with Taylor Matson getting the deciding goal.
The Wolves lit up Wild starting netminder Johan Gustafsson, who previously allowed only one goal through two games. After giving up four goals on 16 shots, Gustafsson was pulled in favor of Darcy Kuemper. The sub allowed no regulation goals, made 21 saves and was credited with the win after playing 34 minutes, 14 seconds.
Each team scored twice in the first period and twice in the second. Aucoin's power-play goal at 10:29 of the middle period marked the final scoring in regulation ahead of a scoreless overtime period.
The Wolves took an early lead in the shootout, scoring on their first three chances, but could not close it out.
Harper, Corey Locke and Aucoin scored in the shootout for Chicago. Iowa received shootout tallies from Erik Haula, Zack Phillips, Carson McMillan and Matson.
The Wolves played their first game against the Wild, who were previously the Houston Aeros before moving prior to this season. The new division rivals will faceoff nine more times this season, including five games in Chicago.
