Griffins Eliminate Wolves From Postseason Contention
Photo Credit: Chicago Wolves
ROSEMONT, Illinois - The Grand Rapids Griffins eliminated the Chicago Wolves from playoff contention by beating them 3-1 in regulation. For the first time in franchise history, Chicago will miss the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.
Marco “Two Goal” Kasper
After a scoreless first period, the Griffins kicked the scoring off 57 seconds into the second period. The play started with a faceoff win in the defensive zone. Grand Rapids moved the puck behind their net and began to move the play up ice by firing a long pass through the neutral zone. Chicago defender Cavan Fitzgerald attempted to break up the pass, but Carter Mazur pushed him away from the puck, allowing Marco Kasper to take off and score.
It took until almost halfway through the third period for the Wolves to tie the game at one. Chicago had a full-ice rush that Grand Rapids was able to keep up with, forcing Wolves forward Hudson Elynuik to turn as he neared the net and fired off a shot from the perimeter of the faceoff circle. Nathan Sucese was in the right place at the right time and tipped the puck past Grand Rapids goaltender Sebastian Cossa.
With 3:11 left in the game, the Griffins finally converted a power play into a goal. Forward Matt Luff missed the net on his first attempt but made up for it six seconds later from just above the right faceoff circle to give Grand Rapids the 2-1 lead.
Kasper scored an empty net goal with 2:19 to play in the game. The play was set in motion by Mazur, who broke his stick while blocking a shot, allowing Tyler Spezia to pick up the puck and go on a breakaway before finding a wide-open Kasper. The empty net goal sealed the deal for the Griffins.
2nd Power Play in the League, No Problem
Heading into tonight’s tilt, the Wolves were second in the league on the power play and had scored seven power play goals against the Griffins this season. Grand Rapids flipped the script tonight by shutting down Chicago’s man advantage twice. To spice things up, the Griffins had multiple high-danger chances while on the penalty kill. How were the Griffins able to get close to scoring on one of the best power plays in the league? By scooping up rebounds. Every time Adam Scheel made a save, the Wolves power play unit would relax, causing them to not be ready to prevent guys like Kasper from firing off second attempts.
What’s Next?
The Griffins and Wolves meet again at Allstate Arena on Sunday, April 14th at 3 pm central. Now that Chicago is eliminated from playoffs, Grand Rapids is looking to solidify the second spot in the Central Division.
