GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 3 at Rockford IceHogs 1

Nov. 3, 2013

ROCKFORD, Ill. — The Grand Rapids Griffins improved to first place in the Western Conference with a 3-1 win over the Rockford IceHogs on Sunday at BMO Harris Bank Center.

The Griffins also continue their streak of earning at least one point in every road game this season, and they boost their overall record to 7-2-1-1.

After more than a period and a half of scoreless hockey, Triston Grant found the net for the Griffins at 13:12 of the second period. Andrej Nestrasil stole the puck at the IceHogs’ blue line and rushed the net. His shot was deflected, and Grant was there to put away the rebound.

With 2:12 to play in the second period, Teemu Pulkkinen doubled the Griffins’ lead. Jeff Hoggan intercepted an IceHog pass in their zone, and Pulkkinen was positioned in front of the net to tip in Hoggan’s shot from the left boards. The puck made its way in underneath Antti Raanta’s left arm.

After the Griffins successfully killed off five penalties, the IceHogs took advantage of a hooking call on Cory Emmerton at 7:22 of the third period. At 8:41, Klas Dahlbeck fired a shot from the left circle to put Rockford on the board.

A tic-tac-toe play between Riley Sheahan, Luke Glendening and Landon Ferraro resulted in the Griffins’ third and final tally of the night. Two quick backhanded passes found Ferraro open at the left post, where he tapped in the goal with 1:24 remaining in the game.

In his second straight win, Tom McCollum saved 34 of 35 and Raanta stopped 31 of 34. With the loss, Rockford drops to 7-4-1-0.

The IceHogs will look for redemption at 11:00 a.m. on Nov. 6 when Grand Rapids and Rockford take the ice again at Van Andel Arena.

Three Stars: 1. GR McCollum (W, 34 saves); 2. GR Pulkkinen (game-winning goal); 3. RFD Raanta (31 saves)