Wolves rally for overtime road win

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Chicago Wolves rallied from an early 3-goal deficit to earn their first road and overtime wins of the season in a 6-5 victory over Grand Rapids on Friday night at Van Andel Arena.

Sebastian Wannstrom ended it 1:56 into overtime to complete a comeback that featured 2 goals from Philip McRae and 1 each by Ty Rattie, Shane Harper and Jeremy Welsh. McRae, Wannstrom, Chris Butler and Rob Bordson all contributed multiple points for the Wolves (4-1-2-0).

The Griffins (3-3-1-0) quickly opened up a 3-0 lead in the first period when centers Andy Miele (2 goals) and Andreas Athanasiou peppered goaltender Matt Climie (4-0-1, 21 saves) for 3 goals on their first 3 shots.

Harper got the Wolves on the board with a tally at 16:51 to cut it to a 2-goal deficit, but 2 penalties with 27 seconds left in the period killed the momentum as the Griffins had a 5-on-3 advantage.

But after killing off the penalties, the Wolves reeled off 3 straight goals. McRae started the rally 2:51 into the period with his first goal, then Rattie and Welsh scored to give the Wolves their first lead.

Griffins starting goalie Petr Mrazek (15 saves) was pulled following the flurry at 27:14.

The Griffins knotted the score at 4-4 shortly after on a goal from Martin Frk at 10:52 after a bad bounce evaded Climie, who had left his net to play the puck. The Wolves responded with McRae's second of the game, a power-play marker at 17:16, that capped a 4-goal second period for a 5-4 lead.

The Griffins knotted the game when Landon Ferraro scored at 8:14 when the puck got lost in traffic in the crease.

In overtime, Wannstrom ended it on a power play when he crashed the net and scored.

The Wolves host Milwaukee at 7 p.m. today, the team's first Salute to Military Families game.