Despite a late rally, the Griffins failed to hold off the Chicago Wolves when Jeremy Welsh notched two goals for the win. Photo/Chicago Wolves
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Grand Rapids Griffins scratched and clawed their way back from two different two goal leads, but couldn’t snag a victory, as they fell to the Chicago Wolves by a score of 5-3.
Chicago hopped out to a 2-0 lead on goals only a minute apart early in the first period. Grand Rapids cut the lead in half after Mark Zengerle’s 3rd goal of the season beat Wolves’ goalie Jordan Binnington just over his glove, and just under the crossbar.
Jeremy Welsh, with the first of two goals on the night, took advantage of a Marek Tvrdon penalty, and gave Chicago their two goal lead back. It didnt take long to see the fifth goal of the first period, as Tvrdon and Anthony Mantha set up Tomas Nosek for his first goal of the season to end the first period 3-2
After a second period that provided only 11 total shots between the two teams, and no scoring, Teemu Pulkkinen blasted one of his patented slap shots home in the beginning stages of the third period to tie the game at 3.
Welsh was at it again when his initial shot was saved by Jared Coreau, the rebound found his stick, as he shoved the puck home for his second goal of the game. The Wolves clinched the W on a Phil McRae wrist shot with 1:59 left in the contest to help his team earn points number 34 and 35 on the season.
Grand Rapids falls to 14-11-3-0 and will head home for a matchup with Iowa.
