EARLY GRAND RAPIDS OUTBURST SENDS IOWA TO 6-2 DEFEAT
Feb 28, 2026GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins rode a four-goal first period to a 6-2 win over the Iowa Wild at Van Andel Arena on Saturday night.
Jakub Rychlovsky opened the scoring with a deflection past Samuel Hlavaj (20 saves) 6:39 into the game.
Sheldon Dries tipped a point shot into the back of the net 1:09 later to double the lead for Grand Rapids.
Amadeus Lombardi collected a cross-ice pass from William Lagesson and beat Hlavaj high at 15:42.
The Griffins scored their fourth goal with 1:18 remaining in the opening frame when Michael Brandsegg-Nygård found the back of the net with a wrister on the rush.
Grand Rapids outshot Iowa 10-5 in the first period.
The Wild got on the board 8:15 into the middle frame when Mark Liwiski slammed a slot shot past Sebastian Cossa (20 saves) with assists from Rasmus Kumpulainen and Jack Peart.
Each team recorded 15 shots through 40 minutes.
Brandsegg-Nygård netted his second goal of the contest 9:06 into the third period on a 2-on-1.
Iowa answered at 13:11 following the expiration of a power play. After Boris Katchouk sent a pass to the goal line, Riley Heidt drove to the crease and Nicolas Aubé-Kubel fired the loose puck into an empty cage.
Lombardi wrapped up the scoring for Grand Rapids at 15:08.
Grand Rapids outshot Iowa 26-22. The Wild went scoreless on two power plays while the Griffins finished 1-for-2 with the man advantage.
Iowa travels to MassMutual Center to visit the Springfield Thunderbirds on Friday, Mar. 6 at 6:05 p.m.
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