Wolves rally for wild win in Grand Rapids

(chicagowolves.com) — The Chicago Wolves rallied from an early three-goal deficit to earn their first road and overtime wins of the season in a boisterous 6-5 OT victory against Grand Rapids on Friday night at Van Andel Arena.

Right wing Sebastian Wannstrom ended it 1:56 into overtime to complete the comeback that featured tallies from forwards Philip McRae (two), Ty Rattie, Shane Harper, and Jeremy Welsh.

Four skaters — McRae (2g), Wannstrom (1g, 1a), Chris Butler (2a) and Rob Bordson (2a) — contributed multiple points for the Wolves, who improved to 4-1-2-0 on the season.

The Griffins (3-3-1-0) quickly opened up a three-goal lead in the first period as Andy Miele (two goals) and Andreas Athanasiou peppered goaltender Matt Climie for three goals on the team’s first three shots.

Harper got the Wolves on the board with a tally at 16:51 to cut it to a two-goal deficit, but the momentum was paused when they were called for two penalties with 27 seconds remaining in the frame, resulting in a two-minute 5-on-3 Griffins power play.

After killing off the penalties, the Wolves took over the game and reeled off three straight goals. McRae started the rally 2:51 into the second period with his first goal of the night. Following his marker, Rattie and Welsh added tallies of their own as Chicago took their first lead of the game, 4-3.

Grand Rapids starting goaltender Petr Mrazek saw his night come to an end following the flurry and was pulled at 7:30 of the second after making 15 saves on 19 shots.

The Griffins knotted the score, 4-4, shortly after with a goal from right wing Martin Frk at 10:52 after a bad bounce evaded Climie, who had left his net to play the puck. The Wolves responded with McRae’s second of the contest, a power-play marker at 17:16, to round out a four-goal second period and take a 5-4 lead into the last frame.

Both teams had opportunities in the third period and the home team was the first to capitalize, as right wing Landon Ferraro evened the score at 8:14. The forward buried the puck into a gaping net after it got lost in traffic in the crease.

Despite pressuring the Griffins’ zone, the Wolves could not find the winner in regulation. It did not take them long in overtime, however, as Wannstrom ended it on a power play when he crashed the net and snuck the puck through Tom McCollum’s five-hole.

Climie (4-0-1) stopped 21 of 26 shots to remain unbeaten in regulation. McCollum (2-1-1) kicked out 20 shots in relief and was credited with the OT loss.