ROSEMONT, Ill. – Left wing Yannick Veilleux scored late in the third period to pull the Chicago Wolves close, but the Grand Rapids Griffins hung on for a 2-1 win Saturday night at Allstate Arena.
Veilleux earned his fourth goal of the season for the Wolves, who were shooting to get head coach John Anderson his 600th victory with the franchise. Chicago limited Grand Rapids to 16 shots, 1 shy of the team record.
“If we keep teams to 16 shots every game, we should win most of them,” Anderson said. “We had that one turnover at the blue line, it was a breakaway and it was in our net. We know better than that.”
That turnover occurred at 13:19 of the first period, when Grand Rapids opened the scoring after the Wolves turned over the puck. Eric Tangradi gained possession at the red line and fed it ahead to center Andreas Athanasiou for a breakaway. Tomas Jurco also picked up an assist on the play.
The same trio gave Grand Rapids a 2-0 lead with 5:24 to play. As part of an extended possession in the Wolves zone, Tangradi collected the puck low in the right circle and scooted it to Athanasiou stationed at the left post for a tap-in.
Veilleux pulled the Wolves within 2-1 with 3:50 to go as he banged home a rebound from the left circle. Defenseman Peter Harrold’s shot from the right circle set up Veilleux’s one-timer.
Wolves goaltender Pheonix Copley (3-2-1), who posted shutouts in his two previous starts at home, stopped 14 of 16 shots. Tom McCollum (1-6-0) posted 27 saves to earn his first win of the year.
The Wolves continue their homestand when they host the Iowa Wild at 4 p.m. Sunday on Star Wars Day. To get the best deals on tickets, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
GRIFFINS 2, WOLVES 1
Grand Rapids 1 0 1 — 2
Chicago 0 0 1 — 1
First Period—1, Grand Rapids, Athanasiou 3 (Tangradi, Jurco), 13:19. Penalties—Veilleux, Chicago (elbowing), 2:57; Miele, Grand Rapids (interference), 10:11; Frk, Grand Rapids (holding), 14:29.
Second Period—None. Penalties—Vaughan, Chicago (high-sticking), 6:46; Bertuzzi, Grand Rapids (interference), 18:31.
Third Period—2, Grand Rapids, Athanasiou 4 (Tangradi, Jurco), 14:36; 3, Chicago, Veilleux 4 (Harrold, Benoit), 16:10. Penalties—Nosek, Grand Rapids (cross-checking), 3:05.
Shots on goal—Grand Rapids 6-4-6—16; Chicago 10-8-10—28. Power plays—Grand Rapids 0-2; Chicago 0-4. Goalies—Grand Rapids, McCollum (27-28); Chicago, Copley (14-16). Referees—Jarrod Ragusin and Terry Koharski. Linesmen—Riley Bowles and Ryan Daisy.
