Bringing Chicago its second championship in two days required a tight, high-tempo struggle as the Wolves claimed their first Turner Cup title Monday night at the Horizon.
Although the Wolves defeated the Detroit Vipers 3-0, they were in a position to be victims rather than victors for most of the match.
The game was scoreless after two periods. Although the Wolves had taken the play to Detroit early, the Vipers had come on to test Wolves goalie Stephane Beauregard in the middle frame.
But early in the period, the more-highly skilled Wolves pounced on a four-on-four situation. Chris Marinucci and IHL playoff MVP Alexander Semak scored 24 seconds apart to send the Wolves to the title and a raucous crowd of 16,701 over the top with anticipation.
“On the four-on-four we couldn’t match them,” Detroit coach Steve Ludzik said. “That was tough.”
“We have a high-talent team and our forte is our offense,” Wolves coach John Anderson said. “We have to keep them on their heels and deep in their zone. If we have a weakness, it’s our defense.”
But that wasn’t a fatal flaw for the Wolves as they bounced back from a 3-2 deficit in the championship series to deny Detroit its second straight title. After Marinucci and Semak scored, Beauregard continued to hold the fort until Semak iced the outcome with an empty-net goal with 58 seconds left.
“I think Beauregard played his best game of the series,” Ludzik said.
Beauregard said, “I was focused the whole game.” He stopped 29 shots en route to his fourth pro playoff shutout.
Although the crowd wasn’t the biggest in the Wolves’ four-year history, it probably was the most energized. And the raucous customers didn’t go home disappointed.
The game, despite being scoreless through two periods, saw both teams generating the effort and intensity worthy of the first IHL finals Game 7 since 1985.
Marinucci finally broke through scoring on a tip-in at 5:04 of the third period.
The goal was set up by defenseman Bob Nardella, a Melrose Park native who played with the Wolves in their first season. Rushing up the middle, Nardella beat Detroit defenseman John Gruden, but was stopped by Detroit goalie Jeff Reese.
However, Nardella dug the rebound out of the right corner and fed Marinucci in front of the net.
“(Nardella) made a great play, just flying into the corner,” Marinucci said. “Getting the first goal was really big for us and got us going. If they had gotten it, the momentum would have gone their way.”
Semak, the leading scorer in the IHL playoffs, lofted a backhand past Reese at 5:28 to make it 2-0. He had worked a give-and-go play with linemate Steve Martins to create the chance.
“During the last 10 games, he’s really come to life as a money player,” Anderson said of Semak. “I’ve never seen a guy improve his game in the finals the way he did.”
Aided by three power-play chances, the Wolves outshot Detroit 14-9 in the first period. However, Reese smotherered or brushed every attempt aside.
In the second period, the Vipers began to force the Wolves to run around in their own zone. As a result, Beauregard faced plenty of tough chances as Detroit outshot the Wolves 12-8 in the middle period.
After the Wolves gained the lead, the Vipers managed a few good chances. But they were stopped by Beauregard or wide.
After Ludzik pulled Reese, Semak added his empty-net tally.
That set off the celebration that eventually spilled onto the ice.
“I hope this is the start of something special,” Anderson said. “I hope we can build something here.”
