TAR HEEL BLUES

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Grand Rapids Griffins surrendered four unanswered goals, including three in a 4:56 third-period span, falling to the Charlotte Checkers 4-3 on Wednesday at Bojangles’ Coliseum.

The Griffins (22-12-0-1), winners of 20 of their last 24 games, saw their winning streak end at three. The result also spoiled the AHL debut of Jake Paterson, who stopped 38 of 42 shots.

Anthony Mantha started the scoring on a 5-on-3 power play with 5:13 left in the opening period. Andy Miele’s pass from the right corner found Mantha at the right circle, who placed a wrist shot inside the far post for his 11th of the campaign.

Martin Frk added to the Griffins’ lead 38 seconds later. Shortly after the power play expired, Tyler Bertuzzi’s feed from the bottom of the right circle found Frk near the high slot, firing a snapshot past Rasmus Tirronen’s blocker side for his 14th of the season and third in two games against the Checkers.

Louis-Marc Aubry gave the Griffins a three-goal advantage with 10:10 remaining in the middle frame. Zach Nastasiuk’s initial effort from the right circle grazed off Tirronen’s arm and hit the near post, with the rebound rolling behind the Charlotte netminder in the crease for an Aubry tap-in.

Ethan Werek scored on the power play to put Charlotte (22-12-1-1) on the scoresheet with 4:43 to go in the second. Justin Shugg’s pass from the right circle found Werek at the goal line to Paterson’s glove side. Werek worked his way towards the front of the crease and lifted the puck past the blocker side to match Frk with his third goal of the midweek series.

The Checkers controlled the play to open the final frame, with Zach Boychuk scoring on the power play at the 1:34 mark. Sergey Tolchinsky’s diagonal pass from behind the goal line found Boychuk at the bottom of the right circle for a one-timer past the glove side to make it a 3-2 contest.

Rasmus Rissanen tied the score for Charlotte on a terrific individual effort with 16:16 left in regulation. Starting at center ice, Rissanen gained the zone and sent a wrist shot from the left circle towards the glove side.

Brody Sutter scored what proved to be the game-winner, giving the Checkers their first lead of the contest shorthanded with 13:30 remaining. While Boychuk was serving a roughing minor, Sutter intercepted a Jakub Kindl cross-ice pass at the point and went on a breakaway, scoring on his forehand when he pushed the puck around the left pad of a sprawling Paterson and in.

Grand Rapids finished 1-for-6 on the power play, while the Checkers scored twice on five opportunities. Tirronen stopped 27 of 30 shots to earn the victory.

The Griffins return to Van Andel Arena looking to extend their franchise-record 13-game home winning streak on Friday when they face off against the Lake Erie Monsters at 7 p.m.

Three Stars: 1. CHA Sutter (game-winning goal); 2. CHA Rissanen (goal); 3. CHA Wohlberg (two shots)

Notes: Tonight was the first time the Griffins have lost this season when scoring three or more goals (20-1-0-0) and when leading after one period (11-1-0-0)…Grand Rapids is 8-5-0-0 (.615) against opposition with a winning percentage of .600 or higher and 6-5-0-0 (.545) on the second night of a back-to-back during the current campaign.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Grand Rapids Griffins surrendered four unanswered goals, including three in a 4:56 third-period span, falling to the Charlotte Checkers 4-3 on Wednesday at Bojangles’ Coliseum.

The Griffins (22-12-0-1), winners of 20 of their last 24 games, saw their winning streak end at three. The result also spoiled the AHL debut of Jake Paterson, who stopped 38 of 42 shots.

Anthony Mantha started the scoring on a 5-on-3 power play with 5:13 left in the opening period. Andy Miele’s pass from the right corner found Mantha at the right circle, who placed a wrist shot inside the far post for his 11th of the campaign.

Martin Frk added to the Griffins’ lead 38 seconds later. Shortly after the power play expired, Tyler Bertuzzi’s feed from the bottom of the right circle found Frk near the high slot, firing a snapshot past Rasmus Tirronen’s blocker side for his 14th of the season and third in two games against the Checkers.

Louis-Marc Aubry gave the Griffins a three-goal advantage with 10:10 remaining in the middle frame. Zach Nastasiuk’s initial effort from the right circle grazed off Tirronen’s arm and hit the near post, with the rebound rolling behind the Charlotte netminder in the crease for an Aubry tap-in.

Ethan Werek scored on the power play to put Charlotte (22-12-1-1) on the scoresheet with 4:43 to go in the second. Justin Shugg’s pass from the right circle found Werek at the goal line to Paterson’s glove side. Werek worked his way towards the front of the crease and lifted the puck past the blocker side to match Frk with his third goal of the midweek series.

The Checkers controlled the play to open the final frame, with Zach Boychuk scoring on the power play at the 1:34 mark. Sergey Tolchinsky’s diagonal pass from behind the goal line found Boychuk at the bottom of the right circle for a one-timer past the glove side to make it a 3-2 contest.

Rasmus Rissanen tied the score for Charlotte on a terrific individual effort with 16:16 left in regulation. Starting at center ice, Rissanen gained the zone and sent a wrist shot from the left circle towards the glove side.

Brody Sutter scored what proved to be the game-winner, giving the Checkers their first lead of the contest shorthanded with 13:30 remaining. While Boychuk was serving a roughing minor, Sutter intercepted a Jakub Kindl cross-ice pass at the point and went on a breakaway, scoring on his forehand when he pushed the puck around the left pad of a sprawling Paterson and in.

Grand Rapids finished 1-for-6 on the power play, while the Checkers scored twice on five opportunities. Tirronen stopped 27 of 30 shots to earn the victory.

The Griffins return to Van Andel Arena looking to extend their franchise-record 13-game home winning streak on Friday when they face off against the Lake Erie Monsters at 7 p.m.

Three Stars: 1. CHA Sutter (game-winning goal); 2. CHA Rissanen (goal); 3. CHA Wohlberg (two shots)

Notes: Tonight was the first time the Griffins have lost this season when scoring three or more goals (20-1-0-0) and when leading after one period (11-1-0-0)…Grand Rapids is 8-5-0-0 (.615) against opposition with a winning percentage of .600 or higher and 6-5-0-0 (.545) on the second night of a back-to-back during the current campaign.