Goalie Primeau's 27-Save Game Lifts Chicago Over Texas In Game Three of Atlantic Division Semifinals

Chicago Wolves/Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cayden Primeau (30) keeps his eyes on the puck during the warmup period before a Montreal Canadiens game against the Detroit Red Wings at the Bell Centre. (Source: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)

The Chicago Wolves beat the Texas Stars 2-1 in Game Three to go up 2-1 in the Central Division Semifinals in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs.

In the first period, Chicago asserted themselves as the dominant team. The Wolves outshot the Stars 14-8 and put up six of their shots in their two power play opportunities of the frame. Texas also got one chance at the man-advantage but were shutout in shots. Eventually, Chicago's shot volume would pay off as they got on the board first thanks to a Noah Philp goal.

The shot differential was even at 10 apiece in the second period. Each team got a 53-second power play, but still Texas did not find a shot in both of their man-advantage situations of the game. In the final minute of the frame, Wolves forward Ryan Suzuki shot a laser from the right faceoff zone past Texas goalie Remi Poirier for the eventual game-winning goal to go up 2-0 into the final break.

The Stars started the third period lit on fire, putting the first six shots in 3:20 minutes of the frame with the first one resulting in a goal by forward Jack Becker to cut down Chicago's lead to 2-1. For some reason, Texas' grit disappeared as they just put up four shots for the rest of the game, letting this game slip to the Wolves.