GRIFFINS TAKE OUT ADS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins doubled-up their closest pursuers in the Midwest Division on Friday, claiming a 4-2 win over the Milwaukee Admirals at Van Andel Arena.

The physical contest featured three fights, including two involving Triston Grant, and a commanding 41-26 shot advantage for the Griffins. Grand Rapids now leads the Admirals by nine points and maintains an eight-point cushion over the Rockford IceHogs in its rivals’ leap-frog competition for second place.

Winners of 16 of their last 19 overall and nine of their last 10 at home, the Griffins (18-5-1-1) will conclude their season-high seven-game homestand on Saturday with a 7 p.m. rematch against the Admirals (12-6-4-1).

Joonas Rask scored for Milwaukee 8:01 into the opening period, but the Griffins exploded with three goals in the final five minutes of the frame to take a 3-1 lead to the locker room.

Ryan Sproul launched a slap shot into the top of Scott Darling’s net from the left circle during a power play at 15:09 to tie the score, and Mitch Callahan followed up with a great individual effort at 16:32. After stealing a pass inside the Admirals’ blue line, he quickly circled and fired a shot from the left side that sailed wide of the net but hit a glass support and caromed right back to his stick, allowing him an easy tap-in from the doorstep. Teemu Pulkkinen then rounded out the period’s scoring by potting a rebound from close range with 1:34 remaining.

Milwaukee cut its deficit to one at the 5:58 mark of the second when leading scorer Colton Sissons was left alone in front of Tom McCollum, who made the initial save on a point shot from Charles-Olivier Roussel before ceding Sissons’ 10th goal of the campaign.

After being outshot by a 32-13 margin over the first 40 minutes, the Admirals accumulated a 13-9 advantage during the third period but were unable to put another puck past McCollum, who stopped 24 of 26 shots to improve to 8-3 on the year.

Landon Ferraro scored an empty-net goal with 4.5 seconds left to seal the victory against Darling, who was solid with 37 saves in defeat.

Three Stars: 1. GR Callahan (goal); 2. GR Almquist (two assists); 3. GR Grant (two fights)