Chicago Wolves hold on to clinch playoff series, oust Grand Rapids

In the Central Division Semifinals against the Texas Stars last round, the Chicago Wolves fell in their first chance to eliminate Texas. But Chicago bounced back in its second opportunity in Game 5 to move onto the Central Division Finals against the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Wolves coach Spiros Anastas had full faith in his team to repeat history, and that they did.

Despite a Game 3 loss on Tuesday, falling in a chance to sweep Grand Rapids, Chicago secured a 3-2 victory in Thursday night’s Game 4 bout at Allstate Arena. The Wolves move on to the Western Conference Finals, where they will face the Pacific Division champion Colorado Eagles.

“Our guys responded really well,” Anastas said. “Everything that happens in a playoff run, it’s a learning opportunity. I think they learned from the last game, so they knew the intensity they had to bring.”

Center Noah Philp scored Chicago’s first two goals of the game, recording his first multigoal performance of the postseason. Defender Cal Foote assisted on both of Philp’s scores. Center Justin Robidias added the Wolves’ third goal to take a 3-0 lead.

Goaltender Cayden Primeau had a stellar day in the net, not allowing a goal until more than 57 minutes into the contest. He saved 33 shots, his second consecutive game with over 30 saves.

“That’s a shutout performance,” Anastas said. “He played outstanding. He made some big saves early, which allowed us to find our game and tilt it in our favor. He’s the best goalie in the American (Hockey) League, as far as I’m concerned.”

Neither team got on the scoreboard in the first period after the teams totaled a combined four goals in the opening period in each of the past two contests. The Griffins totaled nine shots on goal to Chicago’s eight, as both goaltenders stood strong.

For the first 18 minutes of the second period, defense reigned supreme. Three power play chances — two for the Wolves and one for Grand Rapids — were put to rest, and there had just been 11 combined shots on goal.

However, with two minutes remaining in the period, Chicago found its way onto the scoreboard. Center Noah Philp redirected a shot that defender Joel Nyström fired from just in front of the blue line. Philp scored his first goal of the series and third of the postseason after forcing the key turnover just moments before his game-breaking goal. Foote also recorded an assist on the play.

With 15:58 remaining in the third period, Philp scored his second goal of the night. The 27-year-old redirected another shot, this time coming from Foote, to give the Wolves a 2-0 lead in the contest. Right winger Felix Unger Sörum also tabbed an assist.

“It was a point of emphasis in our pregame meetings, just in that presence to get in front of (Griffins goaltender) Michal Postava’s eyes because he’s a really great goaltender,” Anastas said. “(Noah) bought into that, and he’s got great hand-eye coordination, and it paid off for us twice.”

Chicago put the game to rest with 3:56 remaining in the third period, as in a 2-on-1 scenario in transition, center Ryan Suzuki assisted Robidias to take a three-goal lead. Left winger Bradly Nadeau also assisted on the score.

Grand Rapids left winger Eduards Tralmarks and right winger Michael Brandsegg-Nygård added goals in the final three minutes of the contest, but it proved too little, too late.

Moving on to the Western Conference Finals against Colorado, Anastas said it feels great to be one of the few teams remaining.

“The season starts with 32 teams, and there’s going to be only four left. To be one of them is a great honor because this is a really great league with great players and great coaches. Feels amazing. This team’s been through a lot, and they’ve earned this.”