AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Wolves Early Barrage Enough to Hold Off Griffins Rally, 6-4

Published on March 30, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


ROSEMONT, Ill. - A five-goal outburst in the first period lifted the Chicago Wolves past the Grand Rapids Griffins 6-4 Sunday at the Allstate Arena.

Grand Rapids (28-38-2-6), playing its fourth game in five days, staged a late comeback with three goals in the third period, but the early onslaught, which tied a season high for goals allowed in a period (Feb. 16 vs. Milwaukee), proved too much to overcome. Jason Josza and Zack Torquato both scored their first goal as a Griffin, while Cory Emmerton picked up an assist in his pro debut. The win lifted Chicago (48-18-2-3), which sits atop the West Division, past the 100-point mark.

The Griffins hit the road again for a Wednesday showdown against the Toronto Marlies at 7:30 p.m.

Chicago put five shots on net in the first two minutes, making good on the fifth when Kevin Doell gobbled up the rebound of Scott Lehman's shot and stuffed it past Jimmy Howard at 1:53. The Wolves added to their lead at 7:38 when Joe Motzko zipped the puck from the top of the left wing circle to Chad Painchaud streaking down the right side. Painchaud snuck a backhanded tap past Howard to push the count to 2-0.

Chicago continued to apply the pressure, scoring a power play goal at 11:21. Motzko gloved down the puck near the doorstep and poked it past Howard. Following Motzko's goal, Adam Berkhoel took over in the Grand Rapids net. Soon after, Doell forced a turnover in the neutral zone and set up Colin Stuart's shorthanded goal at 12:39. Brett Sterling wrapped up the monstrous period with a breakaway goal, faking left before sending a backhanded shot behind Berkhoel for a 5-0 Wolves lead at 16:36.

The Griffins got on the board with a power play goal halfway through the middle frame as Evan McGrath notched his 14th tally of the season. Jamie Tardif broke up a Wolves pass and sent the puck to McGrath in the slot, where McGrath snapped a shot inside the left goal post at 10:24. Chicago reclaimed a five-goal edge at 19:23 on a Jesse Schultz goal.

Grand Rapids made a furious third-period rally bid, beginning when Tardif once again found McGrath for a power play goal. Tardif came from behind the net to send a backhand pass across Ondrej Pavelec's doorstep for McGrath to finish at 1:54. Josza, assisted by Emmerton and Jakub Kindl, added a power play goal on a slap shot from the left point at 16:55, pulling the Griffins within three goals. At 18:39, the Griffins drew the score to 6-4 as Torquato scored off McGrath and Garrett Stafford's assists, but the comeback ultimately ran out of time.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 30, 2008


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