WOLVES DRAW HIGH-SCORING SPURS

Thunder Bay, Ont- Coming off a 3-1 win on Tuesday against Havana, the Thunder Bay Timberwolves were looking to close out their third game in three days on a positive note against the Denver Spurs on Wednesday.

>>>Denver came into the Canadian National Gardens as the CCHL's top scoring team. Averaging over four goals a game. Thunder Bay has been skyrocketing up the rankings in the defensive department since acquiring elite goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist. The game looked like a heck of a matchup.

>>>The first 20 minutes saw no goals from either side, but a distinctive advantage with the Timberwolves taking 14 shots on Denver's Pekka Rinne, to the Spurs 5 on Lundqvist.

>>>"We wanted to set a tempo early," said Timberwolves forward Patrick Sharp. "We knew they were a gun-slinging team that puts up a lot of points. We definately wanted to take our game right back at them."

>>>The 2nd period remained scoreless until 10:20 when former Timberwolf, Scottie Upshall put the Spurs up first. Upshall doubled up the lead at 19:18 to put Thunder Bay on their heels going into the final intermission.

>>>"We got away from the game-plan there in the second half of the 2nd period," said Timberwolves assistant coach Wes Walz. "They escaped the containment we had in place from the opening faceoff and we gave them too much room. Give a club like that, that much room and you're toast."

>>>In the final 20 minutes the Timberwolves got back to the game they played in the first period. Relentless shots on Rinne, bottling up the neutral zone and collapsing the defensive zone.

>>>At 13:19 while on the power play, the Timberwolves were finally rewarded when TJ Oshie (pictured) cut the lead in half.

>>>With the game winding down and the home team desperate for something, anything, the thing they were looking for came off the stick of sniper, Marian Gaborik at 19:02 for the Slovakian's 22nd goal of the season.

>>>Overtime could not decide a clear winner and the game ended 2-2. But after the game, many of the Timberwolves felt as if they had indeed won.

>>>"While it's disappointing to not get two points out of this," said general manager Blake Wendt. "We held the highest scoring club in the league to two goals, when they average twice that. Our coaching staff came up with a plan to counteract Denver's attack and our players executing it to almost perfection."

>>>"We outshot them (49-36) and minus some outstanding goaltending from Rinne, we're sitting here talking about a win for us," said Oshie. "Nobody likes ties, but we'll take this one. Denver is explosive and we managed to subdue their blast."

>>>The Timberwolves have a much needed break on Thursday, but are back it on Friday when they welcome Sidney Crosby and the Long Island Express to the Canadian National Gardens.

>>>
>>>3-STARS

>>>

>>>*Pekka Rinne (DEN) - 47 saves

>>**Marian Gaborik (THU) - Game-tying goal in final minute of regulation

>***Scottie Upshall (DEN) - 2 goals