Griffins’ netminder Jared Coreau made 47 stops in the New Years Eve loss to Rockford. Photo/Grand Rapids Griffins
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he year didn’t end the way the Grand Rapids Griffins were hoping it would when it faced Midwest Division leader Rockford Icehogs at Van Andel Arena Wednesday night at its annual New Year’s Eve game.
Once the puck was dropped, this game started out quick with a goal by Griffins and AHL-leading scorer Teemu Pulkkinen, who tallied his 18th goal of the season just 34 seconds into the game.
After the Pulkkinen goal, the IceHogs took over and had a season high 25 shots on goal just in the 1st period. Griffins goaltender Jared Coreau stoned every Rockford shot and the Griffins led after the first period 1-0.
Grand Rapids center Andy Miele gave the Griffins a two goal lead when he scored at the 4:23 mark of the second while on a 2-on-1 rush. Pulkkinen fed him a nice pass and he put it past Leighton to make it 2-0. Rockford finally got on the scoreboard on the power play when IceHogs left winger Matt Carey knocked a pass form Ryan Hartman to cut the Griffins lead by 1.
The Icehogs tied the game 2-2 just two minutes later at the hands Ryan Hartman who deflected a hard pass from T.J. Brennan passed a sliding Coreau.
The third period was scoreless but each team showed an urgency to get a goal before the end of regulation. Unfortunately, neither team could capitalize on the power play and the scoring opportunities mostly due to both Coreau and Leighton.
Entering into overtime, it seemed like the Griffins had the momentum and tried to get an overtime win but Leighton was strong and helped force the game into a shootout. Both goalies made great saves to keep their teams alive but IceHogs center Peter Regin put a backhander past Coreau to give his team the extra point and the win.
With the point Grand Rapids is just two points behind Chicago for second place in the Midwest Division. Grand Rapids enters 2015 with a home game against the Milwaukee Admirals Friday. The puck drops at 7 p.m.
