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Ferraro Powers 5-1 Romp Over Wolves
Surging winger notches three point game...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
January 10th, 2015

The Grand Rapids Griffins took advantage of the visiting Chicago Wolves Saturday to send a message that the team's offense did not leave with Teemu Pulkkinen's recall to Detroit. Forward Landon Ferraro scored the teams added two goals and an assist to bookend the scoring while linemates Mitch Callahan and Andy Miele each added a goal and a helper. Brennan Evans, honored before the game for playing his 80oth game, added his 1st of the season late in the second. Thomas McCollum made 19 saves for his 10th win of the season and likely his last start for awhile due to an NHL recall.

Ferraro came out of the corner, took Tvrdon's pass from behind the net, and smoked a shot from the circle that just got through Binnington low. Fraser had a good chance for the Wolves when he rolled a puck through the crease past McCollum, but it stayed out. Miele in the circle got a back door pass from Paetsch and roofed it for a 2-0 lead. Nosek with a sick move to beat a defender and then cut in alone on the net minder for a great chance. Shots on goal: GR 18 - Chi 7.

Callahan won a foot race to a loose puck and passed back to Miele for a good chance. Callahan again cut up the middle and outraced the Wolves defense for a breakaway but was hauled down. Give and go between Porter and Nosek produced another great chance. Callahan great second and third effort on a Mantha feed to bat the puck past Binnington. Twenty seconds later Evans was the recipient of the puck after a great individual effort by Nosek and the veteran blue liner banged a short shot past the beleaguered Wolves goalie, prompting a change between the pipes. Clime came in for Chicago. Miele tried to carry the puck out of his own zone and was hauled down by Rattie setting up another Griffins man-advantage. Shots on goal: GR 12 - Chi 6.

Rattie finally got Chicago on the board early in the third. Miele nice move to get free, took the puck all the way in on Climie and Ferraro came late and chipped in the rebound for his 15th. Miele fired a lead pass way up ice for Callahan, but it was just out of his reach. Mantha had a partial break, but was fouled before he could pull free, and a penalty shot was called. Mantha moved in, shifting back and forth and rang a shot off Climie's toe. In the dying seconds of the game, Sopel went after Bruton in front of the Wolves bench and the grappling match almost spilled over the boards into the bench. Shots on Goal: GR 4 - Chi 7. For the Game: GR 34 - Chi 20.

Lines:
Tvrdon - Nosek - Ferraro
Callahan - Miele - Mantha
Hoggan - Porter - Zengerle
Bruton - Hirschfeld- Frk

Pairings:
Czarnowczan - Marchenko
Evans - Sproul
Paetsch - Jensen

Starter: McCollum
Backup: Coreau

Scratches:
Campbell
Athanasiou - Broken Jaw
Aubry - Concussion
Barnes


PP:
Callahan - Miele - Ferraro
Paetsch - Sproul

Zengerle/Hoggan - Nosek - Porter
Tvrdon/Czarnowczan - Marchenko


PK:
Porter - Callahan
Paetsch - Jensen

Nosek - Ferraro
Evans - Marchenko

Observations:

Ferraro had a great game and has really been on a roll the last couple of weeks. His offense seems to be on a two year rotation, as he has already matched last years goal total, and is well on his way to the 24 he scored in 2013.

Mantha saw time in Pulkkinen's spot on the top line, but may be better served right now moving back down the lineup a bit. He has the skill to play there, but seemed to have a bit of a problem with the extra defensive attention. That did not stop him from making a couple of great plays in the offensive zone. He also had a failed penalty shot attempt in the third, drawing the penalty with his size and speed.

Martin Frk was very noticeable. He had a ton of jump and flying around the ice. His footspeed was noticeably increased and he really was involved in all three zones. He probably realizes he is being passed by Tvrdon and it has turned his fire up another notch. He also made a couple of great defensive plays by anticipating the play and being in the right spot. Great game.


Official Game Sheet