AHL Chicago Wolves

Cracknell, Wolves Fly by Griffins 6-2

January 31, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. --- Four different players scored as the Chicago Wolves finished off a five-game road trip with a 6-2 win over the Western Conference-leading Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday night at Van Andel Arena.

Center Adam Cracknell (2G, A) paced Chicago's offense with three points, tying a career-high, while defenseman Taylor Chorney (2A) and forward Nathan Longpre (G, A) also posted multiple-point efforts. Right wing Ty Rattie, defenseman Mark Cundari, and center Alexandre Bolduc rounded out the goal scorers.

The Wolves (24-16-2-2) got on the board first at 13:29 as Cracknell scored his second game-opening goal in as many contests. Defenseman Evan Oberg led a rush up ice and sent a cross-zone pass to Cracknell, who fired a wrist shot top-corner.

Just over a minute later, Chicago extended its lead. Following a battle along the boards, the puck squirted out to the point. Longpre picked it up and sent an off-balanced shot through traffic to beat Griffins goaltender Tom McCollum at 14:41.

Cracknell added his second of the night only 12 seconds into the middle frame. As the Wolves pressured in the Griffins' zone, a Grand Rapids defender threw the puck to the middle of the zone, where Cracknell picked it off and scored with a quick shot.

Grand Rapids (28-13-2-2) cut into Chicago's lead with a power-play marker at 6:08. Right wing Mitch Callahan redirected a hard shot from the point while screening goaltender Jake Allen in front of the crease.

Following an expired power play, Rattie regained the Wolves three-goal margin at 9:10. Allen banked a long pass off the boards to spring the offense. After a flurry of shots, the rookie crashed the net and pushed the loose puck over the goal line.

Defenseman Adam Almquist scored 6:44 into the third period to make it 4-2, but Cundari responded 49 seconds later for Chicago. Cracknell carried the puck into the zone and dropped it back to Chorney. The defenseman sent a short pass to Cundari, who patiently waited for McCollum to drop to the ice before roofing the puck nearside.

Bolduc iced the win, finishing off a tic-tac-toe passing play with Longpre and right wing Shane Harper at 18:08 to end the game 6-2.

Allen (18-11-2) thwarted 23 of 25 shots while McCollum (18-9-1) kicked out 22 of 28.

Chicago returns to Allstate Arena from its five-game road trip to faceoff at 7 p.m. Saturday against Midwest Division rival Iowa.

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