Jan. 28, 2022

ROSEMONT, Ill. - Three power play goals in the second period propelled the Chicago Wolves over the Grand Rapids Griffins 4-1 on Friday at Allstate Arena. The Griffins have lost four out of their last five games overall (1-3-1-0) and are now 0-6-1-0 against the Wolves this season.

The Chicago trio of Andrew Poturalski, Stefan Noesen and C.J. Smith continued their dominant campaign against the Griffins, as all three recorded multi-point outings. The Wolves’ top line has combined for a total of 42 points against Grand Rapids, as the rest of the team has just 30 points. Poturalski leads the way with 17 (7-10—17) while Noesen (5-8—13) and Smith (2-10—12) are close behind.

The opening period was controlled by Chicago as it led in shots, 17-2. Grand Rapids’ first shot was a Turner Elson breakaway at 1:24 but the Griffins were unable to record another until 26 seconds remaining in the frame.

Chicago notched the game’s first goal with 6:31 left in the first. Maxim Letunov skated down Grand Rapids’ zone and went left to right, shooting the puck over the glove of Victor Brattstrom.

In the middle frame Chicago scored on three of its four power play chances, a new season high for a Griffins opponent. With one second left on the man advantage, Stefan Noesen waited for the puck at the left post and sent a wrister over the shoulder of Brattstrom at 6:18 to take a 2-0 lead.

A four-minute minor against the Griffins gave the Wolves another power play opportunity. Noesen took a longshot from the blue line and sent the disc through traffic that hit the left post and went behind the Grand Rapids’ netminder with 9:27 remaining.

Chicago scored on its fourth man advantage of the second period at 12:37. Poturalski connected with Max Lajoie coming down the slot and sent a one-timer through traffic and into the left corner of the net to give Chicago a 4-0 lead.

After registering five shots in the opening 40 minutes of play for the Griffins, the team notched 11 on net in the final frame.

Grand Rapids then got on the board with 13:47 remaining. Blake Hillman fired from the left circle but was stopped by Chicago’s goaltender Alex Lyon. However, the puck slid to Matt Berry at the right post and he jammed the rubber past the blocker of Lyon, giving the Griffins their lone goal in the 4-1 defeat.

Notes

• Patrick Curry returned to the lineup for the first time since Nov. 24.

• The eight penalties surrendered by the Griffins were the most given up this season.

• Elson skated in his 450th game as a pro.

• Brattstrom appeared in consecutive games for the first time this season, recording a season-high 36 saves.

• The Griffins are 2-10-1-2 (0.233) against the Central-Division leading Wolves and second-place Manitoba. Grand Rapids is 13-4-4-0 (0.714) against the rest of the AHL.

Box Score
Grand Rapids 0 0 1 - 1
Chicago 1 3 0 - 4

1st Period-1, Chicago, Letunov 9 (Lodnia, Miletic), 13:29. Penalties-Bradford Gr (tripping), 7:01; Bradford Gr (delay of game), 9:06; Sellgren Chi (hooking), 18:39; Hirose Gr (tripping), 19:24.

2nd Period-2, Chicago, Noesen 19 (Poturalski, Smith), 6:18 (PP). 3, Chicago, Noesen 20 (Lajoie, Smith), 10:33 (PP). 4, Chicago, Lajoie 3 (Poturalski, Noesen), 12:37 (PP). Penalties-Criscuolo Gr (closing hand on puck), 4:19; Dickinson Gr (double minor - high-sticking), 6:37; Yan Gr (boarding, fighting), 11:56; Drury Chi (fighting), 11:56; Rees Chi (roughing), 13:35.

3rd Period-5, Grand Rapids, Berry 2 (Hillman, McIsaac), 6:13. Penalties-Brickley Chi (interference), 8:40; Renouf Gr (cross-checking), 16:29.

Shots on Goal-Grand Rapids 2-3-11-16. Chicago 17-15-8-40.
Power Play Opportunities-Grand Rapids 0 / 3; Chicago 3 / 8.
Goalies-Grand Rapids, Brattstrom 2-6-2 (40 shots-36 saves). Chicago, Lyon 11-3-2 (16 shots-15 saves).
A-5,523

Three Stars
1. CHI Noesen (two power play goals, assist); 2. CHI Lajoie (goal, assist); 3. CHI Smith (two assists)

Record / Next Game
Grand Rapids: 15-14-5-2 (37 pts.) / Sat., Jan. 29 at Milwaukee 7 p.m. EST
Chicago: 25-7-4-1 (55 pts.) / Sat., Jan. 29 vs. Rockford 7 p.m. CST

Photo by Dale Woltman/Chicago Wolves