What looked to be a rare regulation loss for the Griffins turned to a triumphant overtime-win against Chicago Wednesday night at Van Andel Arena.
After a scoreless first period, the Griffins found themselves down 3-1 by the end of the second frame. The lone goal came from Jonatan Berggren, who would eventually erupt on offense and propel the Griffins to extend their record-setting home point streak to 18 consecutive games. Grand Rapids flipped the scrip on Chicago in the third period, outscoring the Wolves 3-1 — capped off by a hat-trick from Berggren in the final seconds of regulation.
Grand Rapids would secure the win in overtime with about 30 seconds left on the clock — Berggren was on a clear breakaway and was denied by Antti Raanta, but Brogan Rafferty was right on Berggren’s tail and picked up the rebound to score the game-winner.
It was a big night for Red Wings prospects — Carter Mazur picked up a couple of helpers while Marco Kasper and Amadeus Lombardi both picked up an assist each. It wasn’t Sebastian Cossa’s sharpest game, but he was able to rely on his teammates to back him up and extend his record-breaking point streak to 18 contests.
I was in attendance for this game and really loved what I saw from Amadeus Lombardi, Marco Kasper, and Albert Johansson. Johansson didn’t register a point or SOG, but still got to see how much skill he has as a mobile puck-distributing rearguard.
Plenty of good play from some of Detroit’s most-coveted prospects, but this game was the Jonatan Berggren show. Three goals, an assist, and seven shots on goal in front of a crowd of over 9,100. It’s still not clear what his future looks like in Detroit, but he’s doing every thing he can at the AHL level to ensure he has a spot somewhere in the NHL next season.
This win is yet another example of what first-year head coach Dan Watson has built during his short time in Grand Rapids thus far. Assuming the Griffins can make some noise in the postseason, Watson could quickly emerge as an NHL coaching candidate.
Box Score
Chicago 0 3 1 0 – 4
Grand Rapids 0 1 3 1 – 5
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Shine Gr (tripping), 0:53.
2nd Period-1, Chicago, Fitzgerald 11 (Grimaldi, Donovan), 9:58. 2, Grand Rapids, Berggren 21 (Simek, Mazur), 11:31. 3, Chicago, Melnick 7 (Grimaldi, Terry), 15:30. 4, Chicago, Conacher 7 (Fitzgerald), 18:24 (SH). Penalties-Seeley Chi (hooking), 1:56; Marino Chi (slashing), 12:57; Sawchuk Gr (hooking), 16:18; Terry Chi (hooking), 17:24.
3rd Period-5, Grand Rapids, Berggren 22 (Kasper, Mazur), 1:30. 6, Grand Rapids, Luff 7 (Lombardi, Tuomisto), 4:53. 7, Chicago, Terry 18 (Fensore, Grimaldi), 11:39 (PP). 8, Grand Rapids, Berggren 23 (Rafferty), 19:47. Penalties-Berggren Gr (holding), 11:30.
OT Period-9, Grand Rapids, Rafferty 4 (Berggren), 4:30. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Chicago 7-5-7-4-23. Grand Rapids 8-15-11-3-37.
Power Play Opportunities-Chicago 1 / 3; Grand Rapids 0 / 3.
Goalies-Chicago, Raanta 1-1-3 (37 shots-32 saves). Grand Rapids, Cossa 18-7-9 (23 shots-19 saves).
