Grand Rapids, Mich. -
Jimmy Hayes' three points weren't enough for the Rockford IceHogs to overcome the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday night as the Hogs fell 5-3 at Van Andel Arena.
After scoring a combined 11 goals in their first meeting on Oct. 27, the IceHogs and Griffins picked up where they left off on Friday. Just 2:10 into the game Riley Sheahan put Grand Rapids up 1-0. Francis Pare found the forward all alone in front of the Rockford net and he buried his second goal of the season.
Two quick strike goals put Rockford up 2-1. Shawn Lalonde's point shot snuck under Petr Mrazek at 5:40 of the opening period for his second goal in as many games for the IceHogs to tie it 1-1.
Just 26-seconds later, Hayes sprung rookie winger Brandon Saad on a breakaway and Saad deeked out Mrazek for his first pro goal at 6:16.
Brendan Smith tied the game for Grand Rapids at the 12:40 mark when his slapshot snuck through traffic and Carter Hutton for his second tally of the season. Then at 16:42, Sheahan dumped in his second tally of the game when he converted a Rockford turnover for his third goal of the season.
On a power play in the second frame, Smith cranked his second goal of the game over the glove of Hutton at 4:37, extending the Griffins lead to 4-2. All three of Smith's goals this season have come against Rockford.
Rockford found themselves down shorthanded for nearly five minutes after a Kyle Beach major penalty, but the Hogs were the ones to strike on the lengthy Grand Rapids power play. Hayes picked up a Ryan Stanton pass and fired his fourth goal of the season past Mrazek at 7:50 of the middle frame.
That was all Rockford could muster on Mrazek and the Griffins as Pare sealed the game with an empty net tally at 19:52 of the third.
Rockford outshot the Griffs 30-23, but couldn't convert on any of their three power play chances. Grand Rapids finished 1-3 on the power play.
