GLOOMY SUNDAY

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Evgeny Svechnikov opened the scoring for the Grand Rapids Griffins less than three minutes into the second period, but the Chicago Wolves responded with four unanswered markers in a 4-1 defeat on Sunday at Allstate Arena.

The result snapped the Griffins’ eight-game point streak (5-0-1-2), though Grand Rapids remains tied atop the Central Division standings with the Milwaukee Admirals in terms of points. The Griffins return to Allstate Arena for a rematch against the Wolves on Thursday at 12 p.m. EST.

Both teams were held off the scoresheet in the opening period, with the visitors coming the closest to scoring nearly five minutes into the contest on an eventual 3-on-1 when Martin Frk set up Tomas Nosek for a one-timer only for the latter to lose his balance and fan on an effort at the right circle.

Svechnikov put the Griffins (14-7-1-2) in front 2:25 into the second. After Ben Street’s backhanded attempt from the bottom of the right circle deflected off the leg of Scooter Vaughan in front, Svechnikov pounced on the rebound at the right side of the net and caught Pheonix Copley off his near post.

Chicago (13-9-2-1) evened the score at the 7:20 mark when Justin Selman spun around at the right circle and centered a pass to Bryce Gervais all alone in front to knock the puck into an open net.

The Wolves capitalized on a 3-on-1 of their own, scoring what proved to be the game-winner when Ivan Barbashev’s feed from the left half-boards reached Andrew Agozzino in stride in the high slot for a wrist shot inside the right post with 7:37 left in the middle period.

The Griffins controlled the play for most of the final frame, outshooting Chicago 16-7. However, the Wolves were equal to the task before adding a pair of insurance tallies in the final five minutes to extend their point streak to six (5-0-1-0). After Brett Sterling’s breakaway attempt forced a right pad save from Jared Coreau, Jordan Caron raced down the left wing and lifted the rebound from a sharp angle over the sprawling Grand Rapids netminder to give the hosts a two-goal cushion at the 15:41 mark. Wade Megan added an empty-netter with 2:15 remaining for his team-leading 11th goal of the campaign.

Chicago finished 0-for-2 on the power play, while the Griffins came away empty-handed in a 0-for-4 performance. Copley turned away 27-of-28 shots to earn the victory as Coreau blocked 16-of-19 shots in defeat.

Notes: Street has logged at least one assist in six of his last seven outings (0-7–7)...The Griffins are 11-2-1-1 (0.800) when scoring the game’s opening goal and 9-4-0-2 (0.667) when outshooting their opponent.

Three Stars: 1. CHI Agozzino (game-winning goal); 2. CHI Copley (W, 27 saves); 3. CHI Caron (goal)