GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Iowa Wild battled back from an early two-goal deficit to earn a point in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins at Van Andel Arena on Wednesday night. Jesper Wallstedt stopped 35-of-38 shots and Brett Budgell picked up his first career AHL point.
The Griffins scored a pair of goals 28 seconds apart midway through the opening frame. Zach Aston-Reese kicked off the scoring at 9:22 when he elevated a shot over the left shoulder of Wallstedt from close quarters.
Marco Kasper put Grand Rapids up 2-0 with a snap shot over the glove of Wallstedt on a partial breakaway moments later.
Adam Raska pulled Iowa back within a goal before the break. After Budgell won a battle in the corner and freed the puck up into the left circle, Raska released a quick wrister to the short side of Sebastian Cossa (26 saves) at 15:29.
Grand Rapids carried the 2-1 lead into the first intermission and outshot Iowa 13-12 in the opening 20 minutes.
Caedan Bankier tied the game with a highlight reel goal at 15:45 of the second period. Bankier received a pass from Simon Johansson, walked around Simon Edvinsson, and elevated a backhand over Cossa.
Iowa outshot Grand Rapids 26-21 through 40 minutes of play.
The Griffins surged throughout the third period and outshot Iowa 12-2, but Wallstedt came up with several key saves to force overtime.
Edvinsson scored the game-winner with six seconds left in overtime to earn Grand Rapids the extra point.
Grand Rapids outshot Iowa 38-28. The Wild were 0-for-2 with the man advantage and held the Griffins scoreless on three power play opportunities.
Iowa and Grand Rapids meet again at Van Andel Arena on Friday, Mar. 1 at 6 p.m.
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