Wolves beat Eagles 3-2 in power-play filled Game 1 win
Noel Gunler broke a deadlocked special-teams duel late in the second period, and Chicago’s penalty kill held up in a 3-2 Game 1 win over Colorado.
Special teams decided everything in Colorado, and Noel Gunler made sure the Wolves left Blue Arena with the only goal that truly separated two teams trading power-play punches all night.
Gunler scored with 7:06 left in the second period to push Chicago to a 3-2 victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final on Thursday night. All five goals came with the man advantage, a rare postseason script that turned the opener into a test of discipline, puck movement and penalty-killing structure rather than five-on-five pressure.
Chicago went 3-for-5 on the power play, with Justin Robidas and Bradly Nadeau also scoring. Ryan Suzuki set the tone for the Wolves’ attack with two assists, continuing to drive the offense in a postseason run that has already been built on tight margins. Colorado answered through Alex Barré-Boulet and Tristen Nielsen, who kept the Eagles within one goal long enough to create real late pressure.
The difference came in the third period, when Chicago killed off two Colorado power plays and protected the lead that Gunler had given it. Cayden Primeau was central to that hold, stopping 33 shots and extending a playoff profile that has leaned heavily on goaltending. The win was Chicago’s sixth one-goal victory of the postseason, a reminder that the Wolves have been comfortable living in close games since rolling through Texas and then outlasting Grand Rapids in a four-game Division Finals series.
Colorado finished 2-for-7 on the power play, and Trent Miner stopped 15 shots in a game that snapped his seven-game home playoff winning streak at Blue Arena. The Eagles had not lost a home postseason game in seven previous tries, which made the Wolves’ road result even more significant in a best-of-seven series that is already tilted toward execution over flair.
The opener also fit the larger playoff path for both clubs. Colorado reached the Western Conference Final for the first time in franchise history by eliminating Coachella Valley 3-1, while Chicago arrived after series wins over Texas and Grand Rapids. Game 2 was set for Saturday at Blue Arena, with the series shifting to Chicago for Games 3 and 4 on June 2 and June 3. For the Wolves, the first night was a statement that belief and momentum still travel well when the power play is sharp and the penalty kill holds.
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