GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 5 at Chicago Wolves 1

Feb. 15, 2015

ROSEMONT, Ill.- Chicago may have scored first, but the last laugh went to the visiting Grand Rapids Griffins after posting a 5-1 win over the Wolves at Allstate Arena to earn its fourth straight road win while snapping Chicago's four-game winning streak.

Chicago’s Yannick Veilleux scored the lone goal for the home side at 9:44 when he took a pass from Adam Burish and ripped a wrist shot through the pads of Grand Rapids goaltender Jared Coreau three seconds after Teemu Pulkkinen’s slashing penalty expired.

Pulkkinen scored for the 30th time this season later in the opening period, scoring on a breakaway at 16:51. The AHL’s leading scorer became the first player in franchise history to score 30 goals in back-to-back seasons with the tally, following up his 31-goal season in 2013-14.

Chicago goaltender Jordan Binnington caught a bad break midway through the second period when he initially saved a shot from Andreas Athanasiou but the puck deflected into the net off the inside of Binnington’s blocker at 9:47.

Grand Rapids (27-17-5-1) exploded for three goals over the final 10 minutes, boosting its record to 19-3-2-0 when leading after two periods despite getting outshot 11-8 in the final frame.

Mark Zengerle’s ninth goal of the season came when he followed up a shot from Athanasiou. Binnington made the original save and a poke at the puck from Zengerle hit the post. Zengerle was able to follow up his rebound and flick it over a sprawling Binnington into the net at 10:31.

Grand Rapids continued to apply offensive pressure on Chicago, with Landon Ferraro passing the puck to Marek Tvrdon, who scored his third goal of the season following a slap shot past Binnington from the top of the left circle at 17:16.

Chicago (26-19-5-1) pulled Binnington for an extra attacker shortly after the Tvrdon goal. The Wolves had a few chances to score, but it was Anthony Mantha that rounded out the scoring for the Griffins with an empty netter at 19:39.

Coreau earned his team-leading 12th win of the campaign, making 25 saves. Binnington took the loss for Chicago as he turned away 25 of 28 shots from Grand Rapids. Both Chicago and Grand Rapids went 0-for-4 on the power play.

With the win, Grand Rapids now sit five points behind Milwaukee in the Midwest Division. The Griffins and Admirals will square off at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Grand Rapids.

Three Stars: 1. GR Athanasiou (game-winning goal, two assists); 2. GR Mantha (goal, assist); 3. GR Tvrdon (goal, assist)

Notes: Pulkkinen became the second player to log multiple 30-goal seasons in franchise history, joining Michel Picard who scored 46 in 1996-97, 33 in 1999-2000, and 32 in 2002-03… Pulkkinen has recorded a point in 11 of 13 games played in 2015.

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 5 at Chicago Wolves 1

Feb. 15, 2015

ROSEMONT, Ill.- Chicago may have scored first, but the last laugh went to the visiting Grand Rapids Griffins after posting a 5-1 win over the Wolves at Allstate Arena to earn its fourth straight road win while snapping Chicago's four-game winning streak.

Chicago’s Yannick Veilleux scored the lone goal for the home side at 9:44 when he took a pass from Adam Burish and ripped a wrist shot through the pads of Grand Rapids goaltender Jared Coreau three seconds after Teemu Pulkkinen’s slashing penalty expired.

Pulkkinen scored for the 30th time this season later in the opening period, scoring on a breakaway at 16:51. The AHL’s leading scorer became the first player in franchise history to score 30 goals in back-to-back seasons with the tally, following up his 31-goal season in 2013-14.

Chicago goaltender Jordan Binnington caught a bad break midway through the second period when he initially saved a shot from Andreas Athanasiou but the puck deflected into the net off the inside of Binnington’s blocker at 9:47.

Grand Rapids (27-17-5-1) exploded for three goals over the final 10 minutes, boosting its record to 19-3-2-0 when leading after two periods despite getting outshot 11-8 in the final frame.

Mark Zengerle’s ninth goal of the season came when he followed up a shot from Athanasiou. Binnington made the original save and a poke at the puck from Zengerle hit the post. Zengerle was able to follow up his rebound and flick it over a sprawling Binnington into the net at 10:31.

Grand Rapids continued to apply offensive pressure on Chicago, with Landon Ferraro passing the puck to Marek Tvrdon, who scored his third goal of the season following a slap shot past Binnington from the top of the left circle at 17:16.

Chicago (26-19-5-1) pulled Binnington for an extra attacker shortly after the Tvrdon goal. The Wolves had a few chances to score, but it was Anthony Mantha that rounded out the scoring for the Griffins with an empty netter at 19:39.

Coreau earned his team-leading 12th win of the campaign, making 25 saves. Binnington took the loss for Chicago as he turned away 25 of 28 shots from Grand Rapids. Both Chicago and Grand Rapids went 0-for-4 on the power play.

With the win, Grand Rapids now sit five points behind Milwaukee in the Midwest Division. The Griffins and Admirals will square off at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Grand Rapids.

Three Stars: 1. GR Athanasiou (game-winning goal, two assists); 2. GR Mantha (goal, assist); 3. GR Tvrdon (goal, assist)

Notes: Pulkkinen became the second player to log multiple 30-goal seasons in franchise history, joining Michel Picard who scored 46 in 1996-97, 33 in 1999-2000, and 32 in 2002-03… Pulkkinen has recorded a point in 11 of 13 games played in 2015.