
Heimosalmi Scores Teddy Bear Toss Goal in Wolves' 5-4 Loss to Griffins in OT
December 7, 2024 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release
ROSEMONT, Ill.-The Chicago Wolves earned a point but, in the end, fell to the Grand Rapids Griffins 5-4 in overtime Saturday night at Allstate Arena.
Ty Smith had two goals, Juha Jaaska a goal and an assist and Aleksi Heimosalmi also scored but Chicago couldn't hold off the Central Division-leading Griffins in the second of three games in three days between the teams. Elmer Soderblom scored with 19 seconds remaining in overtime to help Grand Rapids even the season series 2-2.
It didn't take long for Heimosalmi to send stuffed animals soaring to the ice on Teddy Bear Toss Night when the defenseman pounced on a rebound of a Juha Jaaska shot and fired it through the pads of Griffins netminder Carter Gylander just 3 minutes, 47 seconds into the opening period. Jaaska earned the lone assist on Heimosalmi's second goal of the season.
The game was briefly delayed while the stuffed animals, which will be donated to local charities, were collected.
Midway through the first, the Griffins evened the score on a goal by Brogan Rafferty and took a 2-1 advantage in the final minute of the frame when Sheldon Dries tallied.
Jaaska's fourth goal of the season tied it early in the second. The rookie forward took a pass from Ryan Suzuki in the slot and beat Gylander to the stick side. Suzuki and Bradly Nadeau picked up assists on the score. For Suzuki, it was the forward's 100th career American Hockey League point.
With the clock winding down in the period, the Wolves were skating with a two-man advantage and cashed in when Smith wired a one-timer from the top of the left circle and into the back of the net. The power-play goal that gave Chicago a 3-2 lead heading into the third was assisted by Tyson Jost and Scott Morrow.
In the third, Grand Rapids evened the score at 3-3 on Tim Gettinger's goal but the Wolves again seized the lead on Smith's second of the night.
The veteran defenseman was all alone in front and converted a pass from Suzuki by shoveling a backhander past Gylander. Suzuki and Ethan Keppen assisted on Smith's third goal of the season.
A short time later, Austin Watson scored to make it 4-4 and set up Soderblom's winner.
Yaniv Perets (36 saves) took the loss in goal for the Wolves while Gylander (23 saves) earned the win for the Griffins.
Chicago dropped to 8-9-2-0 on the season while Grand Rapids moved to 15-6-1-0.
Next up: The Wolves host the Grand Rapids Griffins on Sunday (3 p.m.) at Allstate Arena.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from December 7, 2024
- Roadrunners Fall 6-3 In Shootout Against Calgary - Tucson Roadrunners
- Amerks, Levi Flip the Script on Checkers to Split Weekend - Rochester Americans
- Cleveland Snags a Point in 4-3 Shootout Loss to Syracuse - Cleveland Monsters
- Heimosalmi Scores Teddy Bear Toss Goal in Wolves' 5-4 Loss to Griffins in OT - Chicago Wolves
- Manitoba Moose Edged by Belleville Senators in Shootout - Manitoba Moose
- Bears Pull off 3-2 OT Comeback Against Phantoms - Hershey Bears
- Öhgren Nets Two, Iowa Scores Four In Third To Earn 5-2 Win Over Milwaukee - Iowa Wild
- Never-Say-Die Sens Sweep Moose with 4-3 Comeback Win - Belleville Senators
- Zherenko, Dvorsky Deliver Another T-Birds' OT Win - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Crunch Defeat Monsters, 4-3, in Shootout - Syracuse Crunch
- Rockford Grabs a Point in Springfield - Rockford IceHogs
- Bruins Double-up on Islanders, 6-3 - Bridgeport Islanders
- P-Bruins Battle Back to Best Islanders - Providence Bruins
- Admirals Dropped by Wild - Milwaukee Admirals
- Special Teams Power Penguins Past Wolf Pack, 6-2 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Wolf Pack Drop 6-2 Decision to Penguins - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Rochester Shuts Out Checkers, 3-0 - Charlotte Checkers
- Game Day Preview - CGY vs TUC - Calgary Wranglers
- Wolf Pack Recall Ryan Siedem from Loan to Bloomington Bison - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Morning Skate Report: December 7, 2024 - Henderson Silver Knights
- Wolf Pack Battle Penguins on 'Teddy Bear Toss' Night - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Rangers Assign Defenseman Matthew Robertson to Wolf Pack - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game Preview: Bears at Phantoms, 7:05 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Game #20 Preview: Tucson Roadrunners at Calgary Wranglers - Tucson Roadrunners
- Interconference Opponents Meet in Springfield - Rockford IceHogs
- A Vengeful Home Win - Calgary Wranglers
- Gulls Take Down Condors, 5-3 - San Diego Gulls
- Game #20 Preview: Tucson Roadrunners (10-9-0-0) at Calgary Wranglers (16-5-1-0) - Tucson Roadrunners
- Gulls Rally to Stun Condors, 5-3 - Bakersfield Condors
- Roadrunners' Comeback Falls Short in 4-2 Loss to Wranglers - Tucson Roadrunners
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
