Grand Rapids Defeat Chicago with Sproul OT Winner

December 31, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release

ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Grand Rapids Griffins needed overtime to beat the Chicago Wolves for the first time in four attempts this season as they posted a 2-1 win Tuesday night at Allstate Arena.

Ryan Sproul scored his third goal of the year when he tapped a pass from Marek Tverdon into an open net past a sliding Matt Climie 2:47 into the extra period.

The scoring sequence originated in the Grand Rapids zone when Sproul knocked the puck out of the air after Chicago tried to dump the puck into the zone. Tverdon possessed the puck and led the Griffins on a four-on-two rush towards Climie. Tverdon went wide left and found Sproul streaking towards the net to assist on the winning goal.

Grand Rapids (16-11-3-0) got on the scoreboard first in the opening period with a Teemu Pulkkinen tally at 3:43. His AHL-leading 17th goal of the season came when he got the puck in the slot following a wraparound attempt by Tomas Nosek and fired a wrister past Climie.

After a scoreless second period in which featured stifling defense by both teams, the Wolves evened the score early in the third period on the power play following a penalty by Landon Ferraro .

Matthew Register fired a low shot on goal through traffic and just before Tom McCollum got in position to make the save Jeremy Welsh tipped the puck into the net for his ninth marker at 5:22.

Grand Rapids fired 31 shots on Climie, who made 29 saves in the overtime loss. Chicago (17-12-4-0) had 21 shots on McCollum, who turned away 20 shots.

Both teams had two power play opportunities, with Chicago scoring once.

The Griffins will wrap up 2014 with a New Year's Eve matchup against the Rockford IceHogs at Van Andel Arena Wednesday at 6 pm.

Three Stars: 1. GR Sproul (game- winning goal, assist); 2. CHI Climie (OTL, 29 saves); 3. GR Pulkkinen (goal)

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