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Lorita, Griffins overtake Chicago Wolves

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Matt Lorito netted three goals as the Grand Rapids Griffins capsized the Chicago Wolves 5-3 on Friday at Van Andel Arena.

The Wolves scored twice on the power play - including one on a 5-on-3 advantage - and goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo (1-2-0) made 36 saves in the loss. Forwards Ivan Barbashev, Teemu Pulkkinen and Brett Sterling tallied for Chicago (2-4-1-0).

Grand Rapids (3-4-0-1) opened scoring just 53 seconds into the game when Lorito nabbed the puck out of a player pile near the left wall in the Wolves zone and skated low into the same-side circle for a chance that found its way behind Kaskisuo.

Five seconds shy of the 10-minute mark - with Griffins defenseman Filip Hronek serving a cross-checking infraction - Barbashev netted his second goal in as many games to tie the game 1-1. The play began in the Chicago zone when defenseman Jake Walman sprung forward Tomas Hyka up the right wing. Hyka zipped into the zone and wired a pass to Barbashev in the slot.

The Griffins again took the lead just 2:24 later when Lorito took advantage of a cluster in the Wolves zone and launched the puck past Kaskisuo for the 2-1 lead.

The second period was scoreless until 10:48 when Sterling posted his first tally of the season. Set up by Barbashev and Walman, Sterling streaked into the offensive zone on the left wing and sniped a wristshot from inside the left circle for the game-tying goal.

Chicago again took advantage of Grand Rapids in the penalty box. During a 5-on-3 opportunity, Pulkkinen rifled a slapshot from left circle for a 3-2 lead at 13:03 of the second.

Immediately following a successful 5-on-3 penalty kill for Chicago early in the third period, Grand Rapids' Matt Puempel slipped a pass across the slot to Evgeny Svechnikov for an easy tap-in goal to again even the game.

With forward Keegan Kolesar serving a boarding penalty, Lorito completed his hat trick as he grabbed a loose puck from a net-front scramble and shot it behind Kaskisuo for the 4-3 go-ahead goal at 6:07.

Chicago pulled Kaskisuo with just over two minutes to go in an effort to tie the game. However, Dylan Turgeon scored the empty-net insurance marker for the 5-3 final score.

Griffins goaltender Jared Coreau (3-1-0) made 32 saves in the victory.

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