Griffins edge Wolves, 5-4
Published on November 6, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.---The Chicago Wolves jumped out to a 2-0 lead, 6:50 into the game, but watched it slip away when they surrendered three goals in the second period on the way to a 5-4 loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins at Van Andel Arena Friday night.
Left wing Brett Sterling wasted no time opening scoring for Chicago (5-7-0-1), flicking a pass from Scott Lehman past Griffins netminder Daniel Larsson just 21 seconds into the game. Right wing Andrew Kozek followed suit to make the Wolves lead two when he ripped a shot past Larsson from the near circle 6:50 into the contest, but the lead was short-lived.
Right wing Jamie Tardif started things off for Grand Rapids (7-4-0-0) 7:46 into the first frame to make the score, 2-1. The Griffins intercepted a Wolves clearing attempt, and center Evan McGrath drove towards the net and sent a quick centering pass to Tardif, who flipped it past Chicago netminder Manny Legace.
Center Cory Emmerton evened the score for Grand Rapids, 2-2, 3:36 into the second period when he crashed the net and the puck was lost in the scrum, trickling over the line amidst the commotion.
Emmerton added his second of the game to give the Griffins a 3-2 lead, 7:15 into the second frame. John Vigilante picked the puck up in the right corner and sent it across to a streaking Emmerton, who caught it right at the goal mouth and popped it past Legace.
Grand Rapids increased their lead to two, 4-2, when right wing Jeremy Williams fired a long shot past Legace, top shelf, just 52 seconds later, chasing the goaltender from the game in favor of backup Drew MacIntyre.
Legace posted 10 saves on 14 shots in 28:07 of action, while MacIntyre (3-5-0) stopped eight of nine shots he faced in 30:30, taking the eventual loss.
Johnny Pohl brought the Wolves back within one, 4-3, when he walked into the Griffins zone, hesitated while a defender fell out of position, and cranked a shot past Larsson at 13:28 of the second frame.
Larsson (4-2-0) posted 28 saves for the Griffins.
Jan Mursak iced the game for Grand Rapids with the eventual game-winner when a turnover in the neutral zone gave him room to move in and fling a shot past MacIntyre with 2:39 left to play.
Joey Crabb knocked home a centering pass from Pohl in the corner with 20 seconds left to play, to bring the score to 5-4, but time ran out on the Wolves comeback.
The Wolves continue their season-high six-game road trip in Texas next weekend, when they visit the San Antonio Rampage at the AT&T Center on Fri., Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.
American Hockey League Stories from November 6, 2009
- First meeting with Toronto ends in loss for Lake Erie - Cleveland Monsters
- Climie and Texas shutout Manitoba 4-0 - Texas Stars
- Albany comes-back for 5-4 overtime win against Lowell - Albany River Rats
- 'Dogs drop first game in regulation 2-1 to B-Sens - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Falcons Beat Sound Tigers - Move Into Third Place In Division - Springfield Falcons
- Groulx-ing End To Nine Round Shootout - Manchester Monarchs
- Taylor's overtime heroics give Amerks ninth straight win - Rochester Americans
- Moose shut out in Texas - Manitoba Moose
- River Rats Snap Four-Game Winless-Streak - Albany River Rats
- Griffins Run Winning Streak to Six - Grand Rapids Griffins
- River Rats Rally to Drop Devils in OT, 5-4 - Albany Devils
- Falcons fly past Sound Tigers - Bridgeport Islanders
- Sharks Win in Nine-Round Shootout - Worcester Sharks
- B-Sens beat Bulldogs 2-1 for second straight win - Binghamton Senators
- Wolf Pack win over Bruins - Connecticut Whale
- Three-Goal Third Period Earns Crunch Hard Fought Point - Syracuse Crunch
- Griffins edge Wolves, 5-4 - Chicago Wolves
- Admirals Win Third Straight Game to Even Record - Norfolk Admirals
- Pirates Blank the Bears - Portland Pirates
- P-Bruins fall to Wolf Pack 5-3 - Providence Bruins
- First Round Draft Picks Boedker & Ross Join Rampage - San Antonio Rampage
- Griffins' Three Games In Four Days Packed With Promotions - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Meet The Phantoms At UNO Chicago Grill - Adirondack Phantoms
- Crunch Announce Details Of Crunch Foundation Prize Wheel - Syracuse Crunch
- Coyotes Recall Heshka From San Antonio - San Antonio Rampage
- Falcons Host The Sound Tigers Tonight - Springfield Falcons
- Amerks Look For Nine Straight Tonight Against Syracuse - Rochester Americans
- Crunch Sign Right Wing Simon Ferguson And Center Bryan Lundbohm - Syracuse Crunch
- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
- Pirates Sign Goaltender Nie - Portland Pirates
- Derlago Signs PTO With P-Bruins - Providence Bruins
- Griffins Welcome Wolves Tonight - Grand Rapids Griffins
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