Back-And-Forth Third Period Sees Griffins Fall to Wolves

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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Back-And-Forth Third Period Sees Griffins Fall to Wolves

April 2, 2025 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids Griffins center Amadeus Lombardi (right) vs. the Chicago Wolves
Grand Rapids Griffins center Amadeus Lombardi (right) vs. the Chicago Wolves
(Grand Rapids Griffins, Credit: Nicolas Carillo)

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Amadeus Lombardi secured two tallies for the Grand Rapids Griffins, but the Chicago Wolves scored three goals within three minutes in the third period to defeat the Griffins 4-3 on Wednesday at Van Andel Arena.

Alongside Lombardi's two-goal game, Sheldon Dries (0-2-2) earned assists on both tallies, marking his 10th point in eight matchups against Chicago this season (3-7-10). Tim Gettinger kicked off the scoring for Grand Rapids, claiming his fifth goal of the season. Following a brief stint in Detroit, goaltender Sebastian Cossa returned to the crease for the Griffins, saving 34 shots in his 36th start (19-12-5).

Just 3:23 into the outing, a Wolves turnover within their zone gave Gettinger a wide-open look in the high slot and he buried the chance on the Griffins' first shot attempt. Grand Rapids earned a power-play opportunity at 5:45 but turned it over while attempting to get set up, granting Josiah Slavin a breakaway. However, Cossa dove across the crease to make the glove save at 6:39. As the penalty expired, the Griffins gave the puck away again and the Wolves skated into Grand Rapids' zone 3-on-1. Yet, Cossa came up big with another diving save on Bradley Nadeau with 12:03 left in the first period. Then, with 7:51 remaining in the frame, Slavin got a second chance and tied the game at one, as he shoveled the puck over the line on the doorstep.

Each team came up empty-handed on a power play to start the second period. Then, with 2:45 left in the frame, Lombardi and Alex Doucet went on a 2-on-1 breakaway toward the Wolves' net where Lombardi controlled the puck into the left circle and he scored past the blocker of Spencer Martin, putting the Griffins ahead 2-1. Despite falling behind 15-7 in shots through the first 20 minutes, Grand Rapids outshot Chicago 16-7 in the second to take the lead into the final period.

With 9:22 to play, the Griffins suffered a penalty and the Wolves took advantage, as Justin Robidas scored a power-play goal to tie the game at two with 8:11 remaining. Then, just 1:23 later, Juha Jaaska gave Chicago its first lead behind a flurry of passes in front of the crease. However, Grand Rapids went right back on the offensive. Dries weaved around a defender in the right circle and left a pass out in front for Lombardi who dumped it over the line at 13:35. The referees went to review but confirmed the call and the outing was knotted back up at three.

With just 5:16 remaining, the Wolves took control once again and Nadeau snuck the puck into the back of the net. Grand Rapids pulled Cossa with 2:05 left in hopes of evening the score. The Griffins struggled to maintain possession of the puck in the Wolves' zone, but with 17 seconds to go, a stretch pass gave Dries a wide-open breakaway chance. He attempted to shoot over the blocker of Martin, but the puck was turned away and the Griffins fell 4-3.

Notes *The Griffins finished 3-5-0-0 in the regular season series against Chicago. *Grand Rapids fell to 26-3-0-1 when scoring three or more goals. *It's been 18 years since the Griffins and the Wolves met in an April regular-season game as playoff contenders, so long ago that the Central Division didn't exist and the two teams were members of different divisions. The Wolves took a 5-3 win at Allstate Arena on April 7, 2007.

Chicago 1 0 3 - 4

Grand Rapids 1 1 1 - 3

1st Period-1, Grand Rapids, Gettinger 5 3:23. 2, Chicago, Slavin 10 (Legault, Swaney), 12:09. Penalties-Pavlychev Chi (cross-checking), 5:45.

2nd Period-3, Grand Rapids, Lombardi 14 (Dries, Wallinder), 17:15. Penalties-Ryan Chi (tripping), 9:20; Viro Gr (tripping), 11:52.

3rd Period-4, Chicago, Robidas 17 (Suzuki, Smith), 11:49 (PP). 5, Chicago, Jääskä 11 (Smith, Suzuki), 13:12. 6, Grand Rapids, Lombardi 15 (Dries, Doucet), 13:35. 7, Chicago, Nadeau 28 (Pavlychev, Suzuki), 14:44. Penalties-Slavin Chi (delay of game), 4:21; Doucet Gr (tripping), 10:38.

Shots on Goal-Chicago 15-7-16-38. Grand Rapids 7-16-11-34.

Power Play Opportunities-Chicago 1 / 2; Grand Rapids 0 / 3.

Goalies-Chicago, Martin 17-6-2 (34 shots-31 saves). Grand Rapids, Cossa 19-12-5 (38 shots-34 saves).

A-5,800

Three Stars

1. CHI Nadeau (game-winner); 2. GR Lombardi (two goals); 3. CHI Suzuki (three assists)

Record/Next Game

Grand Rapids: 32-26-4-2 (70 pts.) / Fri., April 4 vs. Rockford 7 p.m.

Chicago: 33-28-4-0 (70 pts.) / Sat., April 5 at Manitoba 2 p.m. CDT

Check out the Grand Rapids Griffins Statistics




Images from this story

Grand Rapids Griffins center Amadeus Lombardi (right) vs. the Chicago Wolves
Grand Rapids Griffins center Amadeus Lombardi (right) vs. the Chicago Wolves
(Nicolas Carillo)		   

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