San Diego took a 2-1 series lead in the Western Conference Finals with a 3-2 win over Chicago at Pechanga Arena on Wednesday night.
Game 4 is set for Friday in San Diego (10 p.m. ET, AHLTV, NHL Network).
Chicago took an early 1-0 lead in Game 3 when Tye McGinn buried a rebound just 1:35 into the game, his second goal of the series and fifth of the playoffs.
San Diego tied things up at 4:56, as Corey Tropp was credited with his fourth goal of the postseason off a deflection of Ben Street‘s shot from the right point.
The Gulls then capitalized on a pair of turnovers to take a 3-1 lead in the second period.
First, Oscar Dansk‘s bid to start a Wolves rush was intercepted by Sam Steel, who skated in and slipped home his sixth goal of the playoffs, a shorthanded marker at 3:34.
Then defenseman Trevor Murphy knocked down a Chicago clearing attempt at the blue line and netted his first goal of the postseason at 11:44.
The Wolves climbed back to within a goal when Curtis McKenzie put in a rebound at the side of the cage with 3:30 remaining in regulation and Dansk (26 saves) pulled in favor of an extra attacker, but Chicago could not find the equalizer.
Kevin Boyle (3-0) followed up his Game 2 shutout with a 21-save effort to earn the win for the Gulls in Game 3.
In addition to giving up a shorthanded goal, Chicago was 0-for-4 on the power play, including a three-minute major advantage in the second period.
Western Conference Finals – Series “N” (best-of-7)
C1-Chicago Wolves vs. P3-San Diego Gulls
Game 1 – Fri., May 17 – CHICAGO 5, San Diego 4 (OT) | Recap/Highlights
Game 2 – Sat., May 18 – San Diego 3, CHICAGO 0 | Recap/Highlights
Game 3 – Wed., May 22 – SAN DIEGO 3, Chicago 2
Game 4 – Fri., May 24 – Chicago at San Diego, 10:00, AHLTV, NHL Network
Game 5 – Sat., May 25 – Chicago at San Diego, 10:00, AHLTV
*Game 6 – Mon., May 27 – San Diego at Chicago, 8:00, AHLTV
*Game 7 – Wed., May 29 – San Diego at Chicago, 8:00, AHLTV
*if necessary… All times Eastern