CLEAN SWEEP

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Daniel Larsson made 29 saves to record his second shutout of the season, leading the Grand Rapids Griffins to a 1-0 win over the Chicago Wolves at the Allstate Arena on Sunday evening. The win was the Griffins’ third in as many days, earning them a three-game sweep of the weekend.

Larsson’s 29 saves were one more than his Chicago counterpart, Robert Gherson, who stopped 28-of-29 shots in the loss. The Griffins (12-5-2-3) have earned a point in their last five games, dating back to a 5-4 overtime win in Iowa on Sunday, Nov. 23. The win marked Grand Rapids’ second victory over the Wolves (13-7-1-1) in the past three days.

Evan McGrath broke the scoreless tie with his fourth goal of the season at the 7:24 mark of the second period. Justin Abdelkader broke down the right side and dropped the puck to Aaron Downey at the point. Downey’s shot was saved by Gherson, but McGrath crashed the net and stuffed home the rebound for a 1-0 Griffins lead. McGrath’s goal gave him seven points in his last six games, while Downey has notched all three of his points over the past two days.

After out-shooting the Wolves by an 18-4 margin in the second period, Darren Haydar had a great opportunity to extend the Grand Rapids lead early in the third period, but his rising wrist shot from in front of the net glanced off the crossbar.

Larsson kept the puck out of the net during a furious last-second rally by the Wolves that included an interference penalty to the Griffins with 7.8 seconds remaining which gave Chicago a 6-on-4 advantage for the final seconds of the contest.

The Griffins killed all four Chicago power-plays, marking the fourth consecutive game they have done so. Over that span, they have completed 17 penalty kills without allowing a power-play goal. Grand Rapids will attempt to continue that streak at home on Friday, Dec. 5 when the Toronto Marlies come to town for a 7 p.m. tilt at Van Andel Arena.

Three Stars: 1. GR Larsson (Shutout, 29 saves); 2. GR McGrath (Game-winning goal); 3. CHI Gherson (28 saves)