Rob Brown appeared in only 48 games in two seasons with the then Mike Keenan-controlled Blackhawks. So Chicago fans never really witnessed what a showman the right winger can be.
But Brown, now a member of the IHL Wolves, had his act and theatrics in high gear Friday at the Horizon. He recorded a hat trick–and his first three goals of the season–as the Wolves (5-3-0) bounced back for a 5-4 shootout win over the Milwaukee Admirals before 8,129 fans.
“It felt good tonight getting the first one,” said Brown, who delivered an extended dance after completing his hat trick to tie the game at 4 in the third period.
For good measure, Brown added a taunting session with Milwaukee defenseman Ken Sabourin at 14:31 of the third period. For most of Friday’s game, however, it looked like the Admirals (3-2-3) would have the last laugh.
Milwaukee jumped ahead 2-0 at 8:37 of the first period. Meanwhile, Admirals goalie Mark Laforest looked like he might smoke the Wolves again with a sharp effort.
But buoyed by Brown’s goals, Dan Currie’s first tally of the year and shootout conversions by Shawn Rivers and Lee Davidson, Chicago pulled out two points.
“This was a real tough, gut-wrenching kind of game,” said Wolves coach Gene Ubriaco, whose team was shorthanded nine times and surrendered three power-play goals.
In a replay of their 4-2 loss at Milwaukee Wednesday, the Wolves were shaky again in the first period Friday and spotted the Admirals a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes.
Milwaukee’s Gino Cavallini and Steve Tuttle beat Chicago goalie Wendell Young for power-play goals at 4:54 and 8:37 of the opening frame.
