WILD BEAT GRIFFINS 5-2, O’LEARY RECORDS FOUR POINTS
Mar 3, 2023
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Mike O’Leary assisted on all three of Iowa’s first period goals and added an empty-net tally as the Wild beat the Grand Rapids Griffins 5-2 at Van Andel Arena Friday night.
Riley Sawchuk gave Grand Rapids a 1-0 lead 5:37 into the game when he one-timed a pass from Dominik Shine past Zane McIntyre (29 saves) on a two-on-one rush.
Brandon Baddock tied the contest at 1-1 just 1:07 later when he deflected a point shot by Simon Johansson through Victor Brattstrom (26 saves). O’Leary was also credited with an assist on the play.
Sammy Walker put Iowa up 2-1 at 8:44 of the first period. After O’Leary circled the Grand Rapids zone and fired a shot toward the net, Walker corralled the rebound and punched it past a sprawling Brattstrom.
Iowa’s scoring onslaught continued with 7:50 remaining in the opening frame. O’Leary and Adam Beckman combined to set up Turner Ottenbreit at the point, who blasted a slap shot through a screen and under Brattstrom.
Donovan Sebrango pulled the Griffins back to a 3-2 deficit with a one-timer off a feed from Taro Hirose 25 seconds later.
Iowa carried the 3-2 lead and an 11-9 shot advantage into the first intermission.
The two teams played a scoreless second period in which Grand Rapids outshot Iowa 13-6. The Wild led 3-2 entering the third but trailed 22-17 in shots.
Nic Petan provided Iowa with a crucial goal with 11:37 remaining. After Beckman and Steven Fogarty battled to put the puck on the Grand Rapids net, the rebound kicked into the left circle for Petan, who buried a shot into the empty cage to make the score 4-2.
O’Leary iced the game for Iowa with an empty-net goal at 17:20 with assists from Damien Giroux and Ottenbreit. O’Leary became the first Wild skater to record four points in a game this season with the goal.
Iowa and Grand Rapids each finished with 31 shots and both teams went 0-for-3 on the power play.
The Wild and Griffins match up again on Saturday, Mar. 4 at 6 p.m.
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