Nadeau, Suzuki lead Wolves past division-leading Grand Rapids

In a showdown between the two top teams in the Central Division, the Chicago Wolves trounced the Grand Rapids Griffins 5-2 on Friday night in Michigan.

Bradly Nadeau and Ryan Suzuki each had a goal and an assist while Juuso Valimaki, Skyler Brind’Amour and Evan Vierling also scored to help the Wolves extend their points streak to eight games with their second win in a row.

Felix Unger Sorum and Justin Robidas each chipped in two assists as Chicago also picked up a point in its 14th consecutive road contest. Grand Rapids, which is off to the best start in the 90-year history of the American Hockey League, dropped its third in a row for the first time this season.

The Wolves roared out of the gate and opened a 3-0 advantage after one period on just five shots on goal.

Valimaki started things with a power-play tally 4 minutes, 11 seconds after opening puck drop. The veteran defenseman took a pass from Suzuki, settled the puck and then rifled a wrist shot from the high slot that beat Griffins netminder Sebastian Cossa to the glove side. Suzuki and Unger Sorum recorded assists on Valimaki’s second goal of the season.

Just 18 seconds later, Brind’Amour pounced on a rebound of a Noel Gunler shot and snapped a shot from between the rings that solved Cossa to the stick side. On Brind’Amour’s 13th tally of the season, Gunler and Josiah Slavin had assists. It marked the seventh game in a row Slavin has picked up an assist.

The Wolves kept pressing the pace and ballooned the lead to 3-0 by scoring on their third consecutive shot — this one by Nadeau at the 13:36 mark. The 20-year-old forward notched his 18th goal of the season on a one-timer from the slot following a terrific pass from fellow 2026 AHL All-Star Robidas, who had the lone assist.