It took a stellar defensive effort and loads of persistence from the Chicago Wolves to get them the win in Game 1. Captain Josiah Slavin was the difference maker on Thursday night, scoring the tie-breaking goal early in the third period to back a stellar night in Grand Rapids and putting the Wolves in an early 1-0 lead in the series.
The Griffins didn't waste their early opportunities in the first period to get ahead in Game 2. Sheldon Dries needed just seven seconds on an early power play to put Grand Rapids up 1-0 less than three minutes in. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard doubled the advantage 88 seconds later, giving Grand Rapids a 2-0 lead just over four minutes in.
The Wolves made excellent use of their first power play midway through the opening frame. Crisp passing ended with Felix Unger Sorum burying a chance from between the dots to cut the Griffins' lead in half. However, Grand Rapids got it back before the end of the period with another on the power play. Eduards Tralmaks restored the multi-goal lead less than two minutes later.
Never out of the fight, the Wolves clawed their way back. Ivan Ryabkin started it, tucking his second of the postseason after a lively rebound. Then, in the third period, despite being outshot by a heavy margin, Cal Foote picked the corner on Michael Postava, tying the game with 6:04 left in regulation. Just like that, the Wolves and the Griffins were heading to overtime once more this season.
Charles Alexis Legault was nearly the goat of the night, taking a high-sticking penalty 13 seconds into overtime. The Wolves had his back, killing it. Then, Legault redeemed himself. After William Lagesson lost sight of the puck and turned it over, Legault's shot was tipped home by Unger Sorum, snatching the win and a controlling 2-0 series lead over the regular-season division champs.
The difference tonight came down to Cayden Primeau in the third period. Shots were even through two periods. In the third, Grand Rapids outshot Chicago, 13-3. In fact, Grand Rapids had ten shots before Chicago got its first, almost nine minutes into the frame. Yet, the Wolves scored the only goal, and Primeau earned the secondary helper on the tying goal. He finished with 36 stops tonight.
After finishing the season on a tear, it had been a pedestrian start to the postseason offensively for Felix Unger Sorum, by his standards. He had three assists through six games. Tonight, he finally saw the puck go into the net. The game-winner might not have been the most conventional goal ever, but it counts all the same. Not a bad time to score a pair of goals.
With two wins in Michigan, the Wolves have the Griffins on the ropes. Now, they have three chances to put the series away. Their first two attempts will come on home ice, beginning on Monday night in Game 3. Should the Griffins win the game to keep their season alive, the series will continue from the Allstate Center on Thursday.
Add us as a preferred source on Google