Although the defense was strong and the offense had opportunities galore, the outcome of the last regular-season game suggests the Wolves are on the endangered-species list in the International Hockey League playoffs.
To the disappointment of 16,291 fans at the Horizon, they lost to Orlando 3-1 Sunday, even though they outshot the Solar Bears 34-17.
Their best-of-five opening-round playoff series begins Friday in San Antonio. Game 2 will be played there Saturday and Game 3 is scheduled for April 22 in the Horizon. If necessary, Game 4 will take place April 23 on home ice. If there is a fifth game, it will be in San Antonio at a date to be announced.
During the regular season, San Antonio convincingly won the Midwest Division title, while the Wolves finished third.
Under coach Alpo Suhonen, who replaced Grant Mulvey in March, the record reads 9-5-1.
Sunday’s defeat came in the Wolves’ third game in as many days and ended a three-game winning streak, while the Solar Bears won for the eighth time in their last 10 games.
“We were a little tired,” said Suhonen. “We could have scored seven or eight goals but the energy to finish wasn’t there. Overall, we played all right.”
