GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 2 at Rockford IceHogs 4

April 9, 2011

ROCKFORD, Ill. – Phillipe Paradis' first professional goal capped off a wild first period and was ultimately the game-winner as the Rockford IceHogs defeated the Grand Rapids Griffins 4-2 Saturday night at the Rockford MetroCentre.

Grand Rapids (36-33-2-8) will look to end their season with a win tomorrow in Milwaukee at 6 p.m. EDT. Rockford will enter the final game of their season sporting a 37-33-4-5 record.

While both teams are out of playoff contention, each came out with energy and supplied many quality scoring chances. Rockford's Mathis Olimb got on the board first at 4:33 on a shorthanded try, beating Jordan Pearce on a breakaway with a quick move to the backhand.

The Griffins responded thirty-eight seconds later on a goal by Jamie Johnson. Johnson was stationed in the high slot where Ilari Filppula found him with a pass that he one-timed underneath the glove hand of Alec Richards. Less than a minute later, Adam Keefe had a breakaway chance, but Richards made the stop to keep the game tied 1-1.

Francis Pare broke the tie at 11:18 with his 24th goal on the season. Just moments after Gustav Nyquist narrowly missed the net on a breakaway, Pare found the puck to the right side of the IceHogs net and managed to force it past Richards from an acute angle.

The momentum swung back in Rockford's favor before the first period ended. Rob Klinkhammer converted on a Jeff Taffe feed from an odd-man rush to even the score at 13:40. At 17:40, Paradis beat Pearce in tight for his first goal in his third game of the season, benefiting from a Griffins' turnover moments prior.

The second period was scoreless, but it wasn't without some controversy. Logan Pyett appeared to tie the game at three after rifling a shot past Richards from the point. However, it was ruled that the puck entered the net just after the second period ended, so Rockford held its 3-2 lead heading into the final frame.

The Griffins fired everything they could Rockford's way in the third period, but Richards was up to the task. He made 34 saves on 36 shots on the night, while Taffe added an empty net goal to seal the victory for the IceHogs. Pearce was just as busy in the Griffins' net, kicking aside 26 of 29 shots.

Three Stars: 1. RFD Paradis (goal); 2. RFD Richards (W, 34 saves); 3. GR Pare (goal)