SHORTHANDED IOWA COMES FROM BEHIND FOR 4-2 WIN AT GRAND RAPIDS
Mar 14, 2018Wild score three goals in 1:54, four unanswered to grab two points
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – Iowa Wild (29-18-9-5; 72 points) earned a gutsy, come-from-behind win against Grand Rapids Griffins (32-23-1-6; 71 points) by a score of 4-2, aided by four unanswered goals.
The Wild’s first goal of the game came at 10:36 in the second period to cut the Griffins’ lead to 2-1. Defenseman Viktor Loov put a shot on net from the blue line, which was saved by Griffins goaltender Tom McCollum (29 saves). Wild forward Dante Salituro, falling to the ice, picked up the puck and slid it past McCollum for his first goal in an Iowa sweater and his first of the 2017-18 campaign. Defenseman Brennan Menell earned the secondary assist on the play.
With the team trailing 2-1 with 15 minutes left in the game, the Wild carried the puck into the offensive zone. Forward Sam Anas left the puck for defenseman Alex Grant on top of the right circle and Grant ripped a shot on net. McCollum made the initial save, but Wild forward Gerry Mayhew was right on the doorstep, waiting for the rebound. He slammed home the second chance to tie the game at 2-2 at 5:09 in the third period.
Salituro gave Iowa the lead with a snipe from the top of the left circle at 6:38 in the final frame. Forward Kyle Rau carried the puck into the offensive zone on the left side and initiated a drop pass for Salituro. Picking up the puck and cutting into the center of the ice, Salituro rocketed a shot over McCollum’s glove into the top right corner of the net. Forward Cal O’Reilly picked up the secondary helper on Salituro’s second of the game.
Twenty-five seconds later, Iowa made it 4-2 on Mayhew’s second goal of the game. Anas put a shot on net from the slot, which went over the net. His shot ricocheted off the glass and back in front of the Grand Rapids’ net, bouncing off Mayhew’s leg and into the cage. Mayhew’s goal capped off a stretch where the team scored three goals in 1:54.
The score held, giving Iowa its first win since Jan. 25, 2016 at Van Andel Arena. The win also gave the Wild sole possession of third place in the Central Division.
Grand Rapids jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the game’s first 2:36. Griffins forward Ben Street scored his 15th of the season when he caught a pass from Eric Tangradi and slotted a puck past Niklas Svedberg (30 saves) for the game’s opening goal just 14 seconds into the contest. The Griffins followed it up by doubling their lead at 2:36 on a goal from Matt Puempel.
Iowa has two days off before facing Grand Rapids once again at Van Andel Arena. Puck drop is at 6:00 p.m. CT Saturday.
The Iowa Wild 2017-18 season is presented by Mercy Medical Center and runs from October through April. For more information, please contact the Wild office by calling 515-564-8700 or by visiting www.iowawild.com.