DES MOINES, IA -- In the final week of the regular season, the Grand Rapids Griffins are trying to lock up home-ice advantage for the Calder Cup Playoffs.
In their second-to-last road game of the season, timely saves from Sebastian Cossa and an efficient power play helped the Griffins pick up a 3-2 shootout win in the Iowa Wild.
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After a scoreless 20 minutes, in which the Griffins outshot the American Hockey League affiliate of the Minnesota Wild 11-7, things picked up in the second period,
Just 92 seconds into the middle frame, Adam Beckman gave Iowa the lead with his 17th goal of the season.
However, a rarity for Grand Rapids, the power play came up big. Just over three minutes into the second period, Matt Luff one-timed a feed from Brogan Rafferty for his ninth goal of the season to tie the game.
Later on, Luff scored another goal on the man advantage, giving the Griffins their first lead of the game with just minutes to go in the frame. Yet, the lead did not last long, as Iowa’s Caedan Bankier found of the back of the net with less than two minutes to go in second, his 13th of the season.
From that point on, the game remained tied at two. Despite the Griffins outshooting the Wild 13-7 in the third, overtime was needed to determine a winner. Yet, even with some creativity from both teams, neither Grand Rapids nor Iowa could score in the extra five minutes, so the game went to the shootout.
Cossa turned away the Wild’s best in the skills competition, while Jonatan Berggren scored the only goal to give the Griffins the victory.
The Griffins are now 3-4 in the shootout this season, and 7-12 in games that go beyond regulation. The Wild are 2-4 in the skills competition, with a 4-8 record in extra time.
Grand Rapids outshot Iowa, 32-29. Thanks to a 27-save performance, Cossa picked up his 20th win of the season, and fourth in his last five starts. Wild netminder Jesper Wallstedt was handed just his third extra-time loss this season despite making 30 saves on Wednesday.
Berggren picked up assists on both of Luff’s goals giving him 32 on the season. The Detroit Red Wings prospect leads Grand Rapids with 56 points, 20 points more than the man who is second on the team in scoring, Carter Mazur.
Luff has been efficient over the past month. Since March 15, the Windsor, Ontario native has scored eight goals, with 10 in his 24 games played.
With Luff’s goals, GR went 2-for-5 on the power play, while Iowa was 0-for-5.
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The Griffins (36-22-8-4) are still in second in the Central Division. The win increases the gap between them and the third-place Rockford IceHogs. The two teams will meet in the first round of the playoffs. The only question is, who will have three of a possible five games at home?
The Wild (25-37-4-4) are at the bottom of the division, two points behind the Chicago Wolves.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Griffins and Wild meet for the final time this season, as Grand Rapids gets set for its final road game of the season on Friday night.
After Wednesday’s result, the Griffins have won all seven meetings against the Wild.
Check out more Grand Rapids Griffins’ articles on MLive
UPCOMING SCHEDULE (Home games in BOLD)
- Friday, April 19 @ Iowa Wild (8 p.m. ET)
- Sunday, April 21 vs. Milwaukee Admirals (5 p.m. ET)
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- Berggren’s overtime goal gives Griffins wild Game 1 win over Rockford
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- Griffins ready for first playoff series in five years, taking on Rockford in division semifinals
You can watch and listen to the Griffins all season long on AHL.TV
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Find AHL standings and results here