Wolves stymied by Griffins' hot start in Game 3
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Grand Rapids turned the tables in Game 3 of the Central Division Finals and produced a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Wolves on Saturday night at Van Andel Arena.
Just as the Wolves bolted to a 3-0 first-period lead in Game 2 on Friday night at Allstate Arena on the way to a 7-3 triumph, the Griffins seized a 3-0 lead in the opening 11 minutes on Saturday to take control.
Defenseman Chris Butler and forward Mackenzie MacEachern scored in the third period to pull the Wolves within 3-2 with 13:38 to play, but Grand Rapids answered MacEachern's tally 16 seconds later with a Joe Hicketts tip that helped the Griffins take a 2-1 lead in this best-of-seven Calder Cup Playoffs series.
Grand Rapids' Matthew Ford opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 5:09. Ben Street delivered on a 2-on-1 rush at the 10:00 mark and Tyler Bertuzzi scored on a scramble just outside the crease at 10:30.
Wolves head coach Craig Berube replaced Wolves goaltender Ville Husso (4-4) at that juncture in favor of Jordan Binnington. Husso posted 6 saves to take the loss while Binnington stopped 30 of 31 shots in his first postseason appearance this year.
Wolves center Wade Megan, the AHL's leading goal-scorer during the regular season, went through warmups before determining his injuries wouldn't allow him to play.
The Wolves and Griffins meet for Game 4 at 6 p.m. Monday in Grand Rapids.