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Griffins Late Comeback Tames Wolves 3-2
Sheldon Dries notches overtime game winner...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
January 17th, 2026
The visiting Chicago Wolves looked to be on cruise control after scoring two first period goals and carrying play for the first half of the game. But Grand Rapids dug deep in third, scoring a pair of goals including an Axel Sandin-Pellikka (2) powerplay marker with just two minutes remaining to force overtime. After a flurry of chances, Sheldon Dries notched his 21st to provide the win 3-2. Eddie Tralmaks scored his 22nd of the campaign to open the Griffins scoring and Sebastien Cossa made 22 saves for his 25th win of the season.
First Period
Miftakhov, the Wolves netminder, came out of the net to play the puck and nearly collided with a Griffins forechecker, causing him to scurry back to be in position. Scramble in front of Cossa, and the puck ends up behind him in the crease. William Lagesson reached in behind him and pushed it into his pads to stop play. Chicago protested that they had scored, but it was ruled no goal after a brief discussion. Griffins crash the Wolves net and Seger digging at the puck until the whistle stopped play. Miftakhov ended up on his knees in front of his net as it was flipped over and hit him in the back of the legs, and a quick whistle stopped what looked to be a good scoring chance. Eddie Genborg won a foot race to a loose puck and then knocked a Wolves player on his butt. The home team got the first powerplay, as the Wolves Legault went off for tripping.
Grand Rapids had an abysmal man-advantage, not managing a single shot on goal. The Wolves however picked up momentum on the kill and scored 22 seconds after the penalty expired. Domenick Fensore put a shot on net from the circle that appeared to deflect in off Cossa's glove for a 1-0 lead. Then just 48 seconds later, Chicago pushed the lead to 2-0 when Nystrom fired a long shot that hit Cossa and continued on into the net. Great work by Antti Tuomisto to bulldog former Griffin Givani Smith, forcing him to flee the zone to retain possession of the puck.
Shots on Goal: GR 9 - Chi 7.
Second Period
The Griffins again got off to a slow start in 2nd period, appearing very flat and back on their heels. Chicago carrying play for most of the period, but GR started to show some life late. Dries with a steal and a breakaway on Miftakhov, nice head and shoulder fake, then ripped a shot off the post. The Griffins kept possession and had a couple of chances but hit the post two more times and just can't buy a goal. Shots on Goal: GR 10 - Chi 13.
Third Period
John Leonard with a great chance in front right off the opening faceoff. Ondrej Becher sacrificed the body with a nice block in front of Cossa to prevent a scoring chance. The Griffins with good possession in the offensive zone, generate a flurry of chances. The Wolves unable to clear the zone eventually take a penalty, setting up another GR powerplay. Unfortunately, the powerplay featured more shorthanded chances from Chicago than it did chances by the Griffins. Tralmaks with a great individual effort to sidestep a Wolves defender for a great chance. He got the puck back, walked up the slot and rifled a shot into the net to break the goose egg 1-2. The Griffins penalty killers were up to the task of killing off their first shorthanded situation, a penalty to Tuomisto. They generated 3 or 4 dangerous looking chances while down a man which seemed to ramp up the energy level.
Eddie Genborg with a big hit along the boards as he is really throwing his weight around. Leonard with a couple of chances in close as the Griffins are laying siege to the Wolves net. Eddie Tralmaks drives to the net for a great chance. Amadeus Lombardi putting on a skating clinic weaving in and out of players and creating scoring chances. He is eventually hooked down setting up a third try for the griffins powerplay. Cossa was summoned to the bench for an extra skater, making it a 6-on-4 powerplay for the last two minutes. The third time was the charm as Axel Sandin-Pellikka fired a bullet from the point that found the back of the het to knot the score at two. Tralmaks to the box with a minute and half left meaning GR will start the overtime shorthanded. Shots on Goal: GR 14 - Chi 4.
Overtime:
The Griffins were able to kill of the penalty, but even when back to even strength they were having a hard time getting out of their zone. They finally cleared and Lombardi dug it out from behind the net and hit ASP who skated right through the net front for a great chance. Lombardi followed up with a drive from the circle. Gustafsson with a long pass up ice to spring Dries for a scoring chance. Genborg took the puck behind the net and then fed Dries in the slot for the game winner 3-2. Shots on Goal: GR 1 - Chi: 0 For the game: GR 34 - Chi 24.
Starting Lines:
#28 Brandsegg-Nygard - #15 Dries - #19 Leonard
#25 Becher - #93 Lombardi - #77 Angle
#81 Rychlovsky - #49 Stachowiak - #34 Tralmaks
#55 Genborg - #11 Seger - #51 Watson
Pairs:
#37 Lagesson - #44 Sandin-Pellikka
#56 Gustafsson - #4 Tuomisto
#8 Buium - 41 Kannok-Leipert
Goaltenders:
Starter: #33 Cossa
Backup: #31 Gylander
Scratches:
#20 Truscott
#22 Wallinder (Injured)
#29 Danielson (Injured)
#42 Milne
Power Play:
#28 Brandsegg-Nygard - #15 Dries - #19 Leonard
#56 Gustafsson - #44 Sandin-Pellikka
#25 Becher - #49 Stachowiak - #34 Tralmaks
#8 Buium - #93 Lombardi
Penalty Kill:
#15 Dries - #19 Leonard
#37 Lagesson - #41 Kannok Leipert
#51 Watson - #11 Seger
#56 Gustafsson - #44 Sandin-Pellikka
Observations:
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