SYRACUSE 2, GRAND RAPIDS 1 (SO)
Rookie forward Nikita Filatov netted Syracuse’s lone regulation goal and provided the winning shootout marker as the Crunch took a 2-1 road win over Grand Rapids on Wednesday at Van Andel Arena.
Filatov, selected sixth overall in the 2008 NHL Draft by parent-club Columbus, has now scored in all three games he has played for the Crunch this season.
After the teams played a scoreless first period, Filatov’s goal came 2:36 into the second to make it 1-0 Syracuse. Steve Kelly and Jonathan Sigalet picked up the assists.
The Griffins would tally the equalizer later in the period, though, as Ryan Oulahen scored his third of the season at 11:17, with Justin Abdelkader and Jakub Kindl assisting.
Filatov and Maksim Mayorov netted shootout goals for the Crunch, and goaltender Steve Mason denied all four of Grand Rapids’ tries. Mason stopped 32 of 33 shots through regulation and overtime to pick up the win in his pro debut.
Syracuse earned its third straight win and remained atop the North Division at 6-1-0-0 overall.
HARTFORD 3, PORTLAND 2 (OT)
Dane Byers scored 3:16 into overtime to give Hartford a 3-2 win over visiting Portland at the XL Center.
Dale Weise and Justin Soryal scored in the first period for the Wolf Pack, who took a 2-1 lead after the opening stanza. Colin Murphy had initially given Portland a 1-0 lead.
After a scoreless second, Pirates rookie Nathan Gerbe scored his fourth goal in the last three games at 8:11 of the third period to tie it. The goal came on the power play.
Wolf Pack goaltender Miika Wiikman picked up the win with 30 saves on 32 shots, helping his team to its third consecutive victory.
LOWELL 4, MANCHESTER 3 (SO)
Lowell scored on three of five shootout tries to escape with a 4-3 road win over Manchester at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
Michael Swift tallied his first professional goal and added a shootout marker for the Devils. Brad Snetsinger also scored in regulation and the shootout.
The Monarchs initially took a 2-0 lead on a pair of goals from David Meckler, and Jon Rheault added a goal for Manchester. Teddy Purcell and Michel Leveille netted the Monarchs’ shootout markers.
Devils goaltender Scott Clemmensen earned the victory, making 35 saves through regulation and overtime.
PHILADELPHIA 5, NORFOLK 4 (OT)
Jared Ross’ first goal of the season in a Phantoms uniform came 4:44 into overtime to give Philadelphia a 5-4 road win over Norfolk at the Scope.
Claude Giroux and Rob Bellamy led the Phantoms with a goal and an assist apiece in regulation, while Steve Downie chipped in four assists on the night, including one on the game-winner.
Philadelphia goaltender Scott Munroe earned the victory with 31 saves on 35 shots.
Paul Szczechura netted two goals for the Admirals, who also received markers from Wyatt Smith and Juraj Simek.
HAMILTON 6, HERSHEY 0
Hamilton goaltender Marc Denis held the league’s leading offense at bay, making 37 saves as the Bulldogs took a 6-0 win over Hershey at Copps Coliseum.
The Bears, who entered the contest averaging a league-high 5.50 goals per game, could not get anything past Denis, who was a member of Hershey’s 1997 Calder Cup championship team.
Max Pacioretty tallied a game-high three points (1-2-3) for the Bulldogs, and Ben Maxwell posted a goal and a helper.
Matt D’Agostini, David Desharnais, Ryan Russell, and Chad Anderson all scored single goals in the winning effort.
CHICAGO 6, PROVIDENCE 0
Chicago raced out to a 3-0 lead after the first period and cruised to a 6-0 shutout of visiting Providence at the Allstate Arena.
Joe Motzko netted a pair of goals for the Wolves, while defenseman Boris Valabik registered a game-high three points (1-2-3). Colin Stuart, Junior Lessard, and Matt Anderson added single goals in the victory.
Wolves goaltender Ondrej Pavelec earned his second shutout of the campaign with 35 saves in net.
The Bruins, playing the first of a three-game Western road swing, lost in regulation for the first time this season (5-1-1-0). Chicago extended its points streak to six games (5-0-0-1).
MANITOBA 4, QUAD CITY 2
Michael Grabner tallied a pair of goals as Manitoba doubled up Quad City by a 4-2 final at the I Wireless Center in the Moose’s first road contest of the season.
Team captain Mike Keane and alternate Jason Jaffray also scored for the Moose, and Raymond Sawada chipped in a pair of helpers. Manitoba captured its fifth consecutive win since opening the season with two losses.
Moose goaltender Karl Goehring stopped 33 of 35 shots in the winning effort.
Adam Cracknell and Warren Peters scored for the Flames in a losing effort.
