GRIFFINS BLOW PAST WOLVES

Chicago Wolves 1 at GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 5

Jan. 10, 2015

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Landon Ferraro continued his recent tear with a pair of goals and an assist on Saturday, leading the Grand Rapids Griffins to a convincing 5-1 win over the Chicago Wolves at Van Andel Arena.

The fourth-year forward, who has lit the lamp five times in the last four games, scored his first just 3:49 into the contest to set the Griffins’ course for the evening, as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead en route to a crucial victory over their Midwest Division rivals. Grand Rapids and Chicago entered the night tied for third place in the standings, and the Griffins now trail second-place Milwaukee by just a single point.

Having finished their longest home stand of the season with a 3-1-0-1 mark, the Griffins (19-12-3-1) will now hit the road for three straight starting on Wednesday, when they make their first-ever visit to Utica, N.Y., for a 7 p.m. tilt against the North Division-leading Comets.

Ferraro’s first goal came courtesy of Marek Tvrdon, who found him with a pass at the bottom of the right circle. Ferraro quickly threaded a shot between Jordan Binnington and the near post.

Andy Miele made it a 2-0 game at the 11:45 mark. After the Griffins came up empty during a scramble around the Chicago net, the puck came out to Nathan Paetsch above the left circle. He lasered a feed into the opposite circle to Miele, who whipped the puck into the top of the net before Binnington could slide across.

Grand Rapids blew the game open with a pair of goals 22 seconds apart during the middle period. Callahan slapped a loose puck past Binnington from the slot at 14:16, before Brennan Evans snapped home a drop pass from Tomas Nosek to spell the end of the night for the Chicago netminder. Veteran Matt Climie entered the game for the Wolves, who to that point had been outshot by a 24-12 margin.

Chicago (18-14-4-0) finally got on the board 1:07 into the third period. From behind the net, Magnus Paajarvi threw a pass out front to Ty Rattie, who beat Nick Jensen to the puck and put it past Tom McCollum.

Ferraro restored the Griffins’ four-goal cushion at 6:33, driving the net to pop home a rebound after Climie stymied Miele on the doorstep.

Anthony Mantha was awarded the Griffins’ first penalty shot of the season with 3:56 remaining, but Climie stuck out his left pad to thwart the attempt and maintain the eventual margin.

McCollum authored his fifth straight win behind 19 saves. Binnington stopped 20 of 24 in the loss while Climie registered nine saves in relief.

Notes: The Griffins are 9-2-1-1 in their last 13 home games, following a 0-4-1-0 start in friendly confines. Overall, they are 5-1-0-1 in their last seven, 7-2-0-1 in their last 10, 10-3-1-1 in their last 15, and 16-6-2-1 since Nov. 12.

Three Stars: 1. GR Ferraro (two goals, assist); 2. GR Miele (goal, assist); 3. GR Evans (goal)

Chicago Wolves 1 at GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 5

Jan. 10, 2015

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Landon Ferraro continued his recent tear with a pair of goals and an assist on Saturday, leading the Grand Rapids Griffins to a convincing 5-1 win over the Chicago Wolves at Van Andel Arena.

The fourth-year forward, who has lit the lamp five times in the last four games, scored his first just 3:49 into the contest to set the Griffins’ course for the evening, as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead en route to a crucial victory over their Midwest Division rivals. Grand Rapids and Chicago entered the night tied for third place in the standings, and the Griffins now trail second-place Milwaukee by just a single point.

Having finished their longest home stand of the season with a 3-1-0-1 mark, the Griffins (19-12-3-1) will now hit the road for three straight starting on Wednesday, when they make their first-ever visit to Utica, N.Y., for a 7 p.m. tilt against the North Division-leading Comets.

Ferraro’s first goal came courtesy of Marek Tvrdon, who found him with a pass at the bottom of the right circle. Ferraro quickly threaded a shot between Jordan Binnington and the near post.

Andy Miele made it a 2-0 game at the 11:45 mark. After the Griffins came up empty during a scramble around the Chicago net, the puck came out to Nathan Paetsch above the left circle. He lasered a feed into the opposite circle to Miele, who whipped the puck into the top of the net before Binnington could slide across.

Grand Rapids blew the game open with a pair of goals 22 seconds apart during the middle period. Callahan slapped a loose puck past Binnington from the slot at 14:16, before Brennan Evans snapped home a drop pass from Tomas Nosek to spell the end of the night for the Chicago netminder. Veteran Matt Climie entered the game for the Wolves, who to that point had been outshot by a 24-12 margin.

Chicago (18-14-4-0) finally got on the board 1:07 into the third period. From behind the net, Magnus Paajarvi threw a pass out front to Ty Rattie, who beat Nick Jensen to the puck and put it past Tom McCollum.

Ferraro restored the Griffins’ four-goal cushion at 6:33, driving the net to pop home a rebound after Climie stymied Miele on the doorstep.

Anthony Mantha was awarded the Griffins’ first penalty shot of the season with 3:56 remaining, but Climie stuck out his left pad to thwart the attempt and maintain the eventual margin.

McCollum authored his fifth straight win behind 19 saves. Binnington stopped 20 of 24 in the loss while Climie registered nine saves in relief.

Notes: The Griffins are 9-2-1-1 in their last 13 home games, following a 0-4-1-0 start in friendly confines. Overall, they are 5-1-0-1 in their last seven, 7-2-0-1 in their last 10, 10-3-1-1 in their last 15, and 16-6-2-1 since Nov. 12.

Three Stars: 1. GR Ferraro (two goals, assist); 2. GR Miele (goal, assist); 3. GR Evans (goal)