Wolves fall in overtime to Griffins
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Nicklas Jensen’s power-play goal late in the third period sent the Chicago Wolves into overtime, but Grand Rapids scored 18 seconds into the extra session to earn a 3-2 win in an AHL Midwest Division showdown Wednesday night at Van Andel Arena.
Jensen and center Jordan Schroeder scored goals for the Wolves (29-19-5-4), who lost to the Griffins for the fourth time this season.
Wolves goaltender Matt Climie (16-17-3) blocked 21 shots.
Schroeder, playing for the Wolves for the first time since Jan. 5, wasted no time getting back in the swing of things when he redirected a point shot from defenseman Derek Joslin directly over Griffins goalie Petr Mrazek at 11:24 of the first period.
The Wolves kept applying the pressure for the next period and a half, outshooting the Griffins 23-19. But just as the second period was ending, the Griffins (36-19-2-2) stunned the Wolves with 2 goals in 18 seconds — the first from left wing Tomas Tatar and then from center Landon Ferraro.
The 20-year-old Jensen, in his third game with the Wolves this season, tied the score at 16:04 of the third perioe when he went top-shelf on Mrazek. Schroeder set up the goal by flying into the offensive zone and dropping a pass to Jensen rushing down the slot.
In overtime, the Griffins quickly settled things when Ferraro redirected right wing Jan Mursak’s shot into the net after just 18 seconds.
The Wolves travel to Rockford at 7 p.m. Friday for an Illinois Lottery Cup game before welcoming the IceHogs to Allstate Arena at 3 p.m. Sunday.