GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Iowa Wild (22-22-3-3; 50 pts.) were defeated by the Grand Rapids Griffins (23-21-5-2; 53 pts.) by a score of 3-0 at Van Andel Arena on Saturday, Mar. 5. Wild goaltender Zane McIntyre made 24 saves in the loss.
Despite combining for 27 shots in the first period, the Wild and the Griffins returned to their respective locker rooms for the first intermission tied 0-0. Iowa outshot Grand Rapids 15-12 in the first stanza.
After McIntyre made a save on a Griffins shot from the right circle, Grand Rapids forward Chase Pearson scored off the subsequent rebound chance to give Grand Rapids a 1-0 lead at 4:47 of the second period.
Grand Rapids was the only team to break through in the second period and they held a 1-0 lead over Iowa after two periods. Although the Griffins led on the scoreboard, Iowa maintained control of the lead in shots, 26-19. Shots in the second period were 11-7 in favor of Iowa.
Griffins forward Taro Hirose beat McIntyre from the high slot at 7:15 of the third period to extend Grand Rapids’ lead to 2-0.
The Wild pulled McIntyre at 18:30 of the third period for the extra attacker. At 18:48 of the third period, Griffins forward Alexis D’Aoust scored a power play goal on the empty net to make the score 3-0 in favor of Grand Rapids.
Despite a strong effort in the third period, the Wild could not solve Griffins goaltender Victor Brattstrom (35 saves) as he secured a 3-0 shutout win for Grand Rapids. Iowa outshot Grand Rapids 9-8 in the third period and 35-27 overall.
Iowa was 0-for-5 and the Griffins were 1-for-3 on the power play on the night.
Next on the docket for the Wild, a trip to Chicago for a Sunday afternoon matchup with the Wolves on Mar. 6 at 3:00 p.m. CT.
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