Chicago Wolves drop tough decision to Griffins

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Chicago Wolves came up on the short end of a seesaw battle, falling 4-3 to the Grand Rapids Griffins at Van Andel Arena on Friday night.

Mark Matheson, Chris Tanev and Anton Rodin lit the lamp for the Wolves (8-6-2-0), who had been tied with the Griffins for first place in the Midwest Division of the American Hockey League when the night began.

The Wolves have allowed the first goal in their last four road games, winning only once. The Griffins struck first when Tomas Tatar netted his sixth of the year at 7:56 in the first period.

Wolves center Alex Friesen tried to score the equalizer on a penalty shot before the six-minute mark of the second period, but goalie Petr Mrazek (6-0-0, 25 saves) made the stop.

Matheson got the Wolves on the board at 8:25 of the second, his third goal of the season and second in two games.

The Griffins (9-4-1-1), who ran their winning streak to seven games, quickly responded when Mitch Callahan recorded his first of the season 13 seconds later.

With the Wolves trailing 2-1, Tanev fired a shot that ricocheted off the goal post and into the net at 17:37 of the second.

But the Griffins regained a 3-2 lead on Chad Billins’ power-play goal 36 seconds into the third period.

Rodin’s rebound goal at 5:53 knotted the score at 3-3, but Tatar notched what proved to be the game-winning goal past Wolves goaltender Eddie Lack at 17:47. Lack (6-4-0) stopped 25 of 29 shots.