Griffins post 6-0 shutout over Iowa Wild Continues Three-Game Home Stand Friday and Saturday

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa Wild (15-26-1-1, 32 points) were defeated by the Grand Rapids Griffins (22-16-3-1, 48 points) 6-0 in front of 3,408 fans on Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena. Right wing Teemu Pulkkinen scored three power-play goals to complete the hat trick and tallied an assist for four points. Grand Rapids goalie Jared Coreau (8-6-1) made 38 saves in the victory, recording his second shutout this season. Forwards Anthony Mantha, Jeff Hoggan and Landon Ferraro also scored for the Griffins. Iowa Goalie Darcy Kuemper (0-1-0) made 23 saves on 28 shots and took the loss in two periods of work. Iowa goalie John Curry (8-9-0) came in for relief and stopped nine of 10 shots in the defeat. Hamilton visits Iowa on Friday night at 7 p.m.

The Griffins opened up scoring early in the first period when forward Teemu Pulkkinen scored a power-play goal at the 3:02 mark. His 22nd goal of the season was set up by defenseman Nathan Paetsch and forward Andy Miele, giving Grand Rapids a 1-0 lead. Rookie forward Anthony Mantha extended the Griffins lead to 2-0 when he scored an unassisted goal at 4:06 of the period for his seventh goal of the season. Pulkkinen poked the puck past Iowa goalie Darcy Kuemper to score his second power-play goal of the night at 6:14 into the period. Miele and defenseman Mitch Callahan aided Pulkkinen for his 23rd goal of the year, making it 3-0 Grand Rapids.

In the second period, Pulkkinen registered his third power-play goal of the game at the 1:35 mark, completing a hat trick. Miele and Callahan assisted Pulkkinen on his 24th goal of the year for the 4-0 Grand Rapids lead. The Griffins widen the gap late in the period, when forward Jeff Hoggan scored a power-play goal at the 18:37 mark. Hoggan’s fourth goal this season was helped by Pulkkinen and Paetsch, making it 5-0 Grand Rapids.

In the third period, Grand Rapids expanded its lead at the 6:28 mark with a goal from forward Landon Ferraro. Ferraro fired an unassisted wrist shot from the slot past Iowa goalie John Curry for his 18th goal this season and the 6-0 final.