GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Wolves inserted three new players into their lineup Sunday, but it was the familiar face who sparked a 4-3 overtime victory against Grand Rapids at Van Andel Arena. In the process, the Wolves snapped the Griffins’ 14-game home winning streak.
Captain Pat Cannone recorded his second career hat trick with the Wolves, providing the game-winner at 2:29 of overtime, a power play goal scored from close range. The goal was Cannone’s team-leading 13th of the season, and extended his point streak to five games.
Earlier in the day, Chicago (18-17-1-2) signed defensemen Drew Daniels, Jared Nightingale and Joel Chouinard to PTO contracts to fill out a roster depleted by injuries and reassignments. Chicago’s special teams also excel, scoring twice on the power play (along with a short-handed strike), and killing off all six man-down situations.
Grand Rapids (23-13-0-1) twice claimed leads, only to see the Wolves pull even. Grand Rapids’ A.J. Jenks opened scoring at 15:28 of the first period, knocking in a loose rebound to the right of the net. Chicago responded at 18:37 on Cannone’s first goal of the day – a short-handed tally.
The Griffins reclaimed a 2-1 lead 52 seconds into the second period when Andy Miele skated into the slot and lifted a backhander over the shoulder of goaltender Pheonix Copley. Chicago answered with Petteri Lindbohm’s goal, a slapshot ripped from just inside the blueline at 15:02.
The teams exchanged third period goals to force overtime. Cannone tipped in a shot from Jordan Caron at 2:41, and Tomas Nosek circled from behind the net, shook off a defender, and lifted a high shot into the net at 4:23.
Copley (10-11-1) finished with 22 saves while counterpart Jared Coreau (19-6-1) turned away 33 shots.
The Wolves continue their road trip with a pair of games at Charlotte next weekend (Jan. 22-23).
WOLVES 4, GRIFFINS 3
Chicago 1 1 1 1 — 4
Grand Rapids 1 1 1 0 — 3
First Period—1, Grand Rapids, Jenks 2 (Nastasiuk, Russo), 15:28; 2, Chicago, Cannone 11 (unassisted), 18:37, sh.
Penalties—Barbashev, Chicago (tripping), 3:15; Campbell, Grand Rapids (high-sticking), 9:31; Hayes, Chicago (high-sticking), 17:34.
Second Period—3, Grand Rapids, Miele 8 (Frk, Jensen), 0:52; 4, Chicago, Lindbohm 3 (unassisted), 15:02.
Penalties—Doty, Chicago (holding), 5:57; Torquato, Chicago (hooking), 8:42; Kindl, Grand Rapids (tripping), 18:21; Russo, Grand Rapids (double-minor, high-sticking), 20:00
Third Period—5, Chicago, Cannone 12 (Caron, Schmaltz), 2:41, pp; 6, Grand Rapids, Nosek 4 (Paetsch), 4:23.
Penalties—Schmaltz, Chicago (holding), 14:13; Chouinard, Chicago (delay of game), 14:51.
Overtime—7, Chicago, Cannone 13 (Kristo, Caron), 2:29, pp. Penalties—Tangradi, Grand Rapids (hooking), 0:43.
Shots on goal—Chicago 9-14-9-5—37; Grand Rapids 6-10-9-0—25. Power plays—Chicago 2-5; Grand Rapids 0-6. Goalies—Chicago, Copley (22-25); Grand Rapids, Coreau (33-37). Referees—Cameron Voss and Pierre Lambert. Linesmen—Bob Marcis and Jesse Pletsch.
