Viktor Neuchev Nets OT Winner as Wolves Avoid Sweep at Hands of Marlies in Calder Cup
Viktor Neuchev scored 3:18 into overtime as Chicago erased a 3-1 deficit and forced Game 5 in the Calder Cup finals.
- On Thursday, the Chicago Wolves defeated the Toronto Marlies 4-3 in overtime, stopping a clean sweep in the Calder Cup finals. Viktor Neuchev scored the winner 3:18 into the extra period.
- Entering the third period trailing 3-1, the Wolves rallied as Domenick Fensore and Justin Robidas scored to force overtime. The Marlies had built their lead through goals by Jacob Quillan, Luke Haymes, and Ryan Tverberg.
- Chicago goaltender Cayden Primeau made 33 saves to stun more than 8,000 fired-up fans at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Toronto's Artur Akhtyamov stopped 22 shots in the losing effort.
- The Toronto Marlies remain ahead 3-1 in the best-of-seven series. Game 5 is scheduled for Friday at Coca-Cola Coliseum, with the Wolves attempting to extend their playoff run.
- Before the game, Chicago coach Spiros Anastas backed Primeau's return, saying "we've got nothing to lose." Anastas noted the Wolves previously won twice on the road facing elimination in the Western Conference final against Colorado.
16 Articles
16 Articles
The Toronto Star
Viktor Neuchev nets OT winner as Wolves avoid sweep at hands of Marlies in Calder Cup
TORONTO - Viktor Neuchev scored the winner 3:18 into overtime as the Chicago Wolves stopped the Toronto Marlies from completing a sweep in the Calder Cup finals with a 4-3
Friday's FTB: Marlies need another shot at the Cup
The Wolves struck first last night, with a goal 28 seconds in, but then the Marlies took over outshooting the Wolves 21-5 in the first.The duelling free agent centre prospects struck back, first Jacob Quillan and then Luke Haymes. OHH MYYYY Q!!!Jacob Quillan scores a beauty on the power-play to make it 1-1! | @cocacola_ca pic.twitter.com/pB8L9RiKcb— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) June 18, 2026 WHAT TIME IS IT? HAYMER TIME! 🔨Luke Haymes score…
Neuchev caps comeback in OT as Wolves stay alive
TORONTO, Ont. (theahl.com) … The Chicago Wolves stayed alive Thursday night, staging a third-period comeback before taking a 4-3 overtime victory against the Toronto Marlies in Game 4 of the Calder Cup Finals. Viktor Neuchev scooped up a loose puck and beat Artur Akhtyamov 3:18 into overtime as the Wolves avoided elimination for the fourth time this postseason. Down 3-1 going into the third period, the Wolves responded twice in a 65-second span to tie the game. Domenick Fensore got the comeback started at the 4:23 mark before Justin Robidas tied the game on a wraparound at 5:28. The Marlies still hold a 3-1 series lead. Game 5 of the best-of-seven series is Friday night at Coca-Coliseum (7 ET,, Sportsnet 360, NHL Network, SiriusXM NHL Network Radio). If necessary, Game 6 would be Sunday at Chicago. Cayden Primeau (9-8) stopped 33 shots for the Wolves, including 19 in the first period when the Marlies peppered the Chicago net with 21 shots. Akhtyamov (14-7) had 22 saves for the Marlies. Chicago struck just 28 seconds into the game on Bradly Nadeau’s seventh goal of the postseason. But Jacob Quillan responded for the Marlies at 4:36 before Luke Haymes poked in his own rebound past Primeau at 9:58. Toronto upped the lead to 3-1 late in the second period when Ryan Tverberg took a Dakota Mermis stretch pass and beat Primeau at 18:05. A standing-room-only crowd of 8,401 saw Toronto’s five-game winning streak end. (Toronto leads series, 3-1) Game 1 – Fri., June 12 – Toronto 4, CHICAGO 2 Game 2 – Sun., June 14 – Toronto 5, CHICAGO 4 (OT) Game 3 – Tue., June 16 – TORONTO 1, Chicago 0 Game 4 – Thu., June 18 – Chicago 4, TORONTO 3 (OT) Game 5 – Fri., June 19 – Chicago at Toronto, 7:00 *Game 6 – Sun., June 21 – Toronto at Chicago, 4:00 *Game 7 – Tue., June 23 – Toronto at Chicago, 8:00 *if necessary… All times Eastern
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