AHL Central News: Griffins, Wild Win in Quiet Weekend

3 years ago  /  The Hockey Writers  /  Read Time: 4 minutes 15 seconds

• The Grand Rapids Griffins stayed perfect against the Cleveland Monsters on the season and the Iowa Wild finally got back into the win column at the Rockford IceHogs.
• Cleveland had the lone goal of the first period, as Dillon Simpson put his own rebound past goaltender Pat Nagle for his third of the season.
• Things picked up for the Griffins in the middle frame as Givani Smith tied the game just 51 seconds into the period.
• The Monsters only had three shots in the period, but one of them went in as Wyatt Newpower’s first professional goal broke the tie at the three-minute mark.
• Turner Elson sprung Chase Pearson on a breakaway, who went glove side for the eventual game-winning goal late in the second period.
• Pearson scored his second of the night and fourth of the season just over five minutes into the third period.
• Iowa flipped the script on Rockford as the IceHogs outshot their opponent for just the second time this season, yet it was the Wild who came out on top to snap their five-game winless streak.
• Reigning AHL MVP Gerry Mayhew proceeded to put the Wild up 1-0 by locating a rebound in the slot and firing it home for his second goal of the season.
• Defenseman Cody Franson got the IceHogs on the board early in the second period when his shot from center ice made its way behind goaltender Hunter Jones.
• Iowa had a quick response as Mayhew scored again by putting home his own rebound less than two minutes later.
• IceHogs’ captain Garrett Mitchell scored his first goal of the season, giving his team a 3-2 lead just 97 seconds into the third period.
• The Wild answered quickly again, this time a minute and a half later, when Tyler Sheehy scored his first AHL goal by banging home a rebound while falling down.
• The veteran’s seventh goal of the season and third against the IceHogs turned out to be the game-winner.

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