GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 3 at Chicago Wolves 1

April 21, 2013

ROSEMONT, Ill. – With a playoff berth clinched and the Midwest Division title already wrapped up, the Grand Rapids Griffins were looking for some momentum entering the Calder Cup Playoffs, and they found just that with a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Wolves on Sunday evening at Allstate Arena.

The result, coupled with a 3-0 win for Oklahoma City over Houston today, means the Griffins will play the Aeros in the first round of the playoffs. Houston will host Game 1 on Friday at 8:05 p.m. EDT, and the Griffins will host their first home playoff game (Game 3) on Wednesday, May 1 at 7 p.m.

The Griffins finish the regular season with a 42-26-4-4 record and won seven of eightgames against the division-rival Wolves (7-1-0-0). Tom McCollum, who had his shutout bid spoiled with just 7:41 to play, finished the season with a 5-0 mark, a 1.35 goals against average and a 0.948 save percentage in five appearances against the Wolves, who finished the season 10th in the Western Conference at 37-30-5-4.

Captain Jeff Hoggan did his part to help the Griffins end the season on a winning note, with two first-period goals. At the 15:20 mark, Jan Mursak took the puck behind the net and left it for Luke Glendening, who found Hoggan with an elevated backhand pass at the side of the net. The wide-open Hoggan found space between Joe Cannata’s glove and left pad give Grand Rapids the early lead.

Hoggan struck again with 58 seconds left in the frame, converting a shorthanded two-on-one with Landon Ferraro. The pair caused a turnover at the Griffins blueline and skated towards the Chicago net. Hoggan gathered a pass from Ferraro and wired a slap shot over Cannata’s glove, extending the lead to two. The assist marked Ferraro’s seventh shorthanded point of the season, leading the entire AHL in that category.

Ferraro notched a goal of his own – his team-best 24th of the campaign – at 1:23 of the second period. Adam Almquist set up Teemu Pulkkinen for a one-timer on the man advantage that was blocked in front of the net. Ferraro collected the rebound and squeezed the puck between Cannata’s pads to make it 3-0.

Chicago combined for their lone goal at 12:19 of the third period. Michael Davies centered a puck from behind the net to Anton Rodin, who was stationed in front. Rodin tapped the puck between McCollum’s pads to draw the Wolves within two, but that's as close as they'd come.

McCollum made 23 saves in the victory, giving him seven wins over his last 10 games. Cannata made 34 stops for Chicago.

Three Stars: 1. GR Hoggan (two goals); 2. GR Ferraro (goal, assist); 3. CHI Cannata (34 saves)