If anything frustrates the Wolves more than their struggling power play, it’s their inability to come from behind in the third period.
Adam Cracknell broke a tie midway through the second period as Peoria held on for a 3-1 victory over the Wolves in a battle for the Midwest Division lead Wednesday before a crowd of 4,618 at Allstate Arena.
The Wolves fell to 0-18-0-0 when trailing after two periods. They are the only team in the AHL without a third-period comeback victory.
A turnover in the Wolves zone led to the Rivermen’s first-period goal by Jonathan Cheechoo goal at the 15-minute, 1-second mark. Patrick O’Sullivan stole the puck from Jordan Henry before sliding a quick pass to Cheechoo, who one-timed it past Eddie Lack before he could recover.
Trailing 1-0 after the first despite a despite a decided edge in shots (18-3), the Wolves tied it on a goal by Mark Mancari at 7:06.
Mancari, who has a team-high 26 goals, deflected a blast from Mark Matheson past Jake Allen, who finished with 38 saves. Mancari started the play behind the net with a pass to Byron Bitz, whose wraparound attempt bounced all the way to Matheson at the right point.
The Rivermen regained the lead 21/2 minutes later with their own deflection goal. Cracknell, camped in front of the Wolves net, tipped a low slap shot from Brennan Evans over Eddie Lack’s shoulder.
Lack finished with 23 saves in his fifth consecutive start. The Wolves ended with a 39-26 shot advantage.
The Wolves played without top defenseman Kevin Connauton, who is listed as day-to-day with a lower body injury. Rookie Brad Hunt replaced Connauton after signing an amateur tryout contract with the Wolves earlier in the day.