ROCKFORD, Ill. — The Grand Rapids Griffins scored three times in the second period and held off a late push to beat the Rockford IceHogs 4-2 on Saturday night, Oct. 17, at the BMO Center.
After Rockford goalie Stanislav Berezhnoy turned aside 15 shots in a scoreless first period, Grand Rapids struck twice within 35 seconds early in the second. Carter Bear knocked in a rebound for the opening goal, and Dylan James cashed in on a Rockford turnover behind its own net moments later.
John Leonard made it 3-0 at 18:25 of the second, firing from the slot during a two-man advantage.
Rockford answered twice in the third on goals by Nick Lardis and Brett Seney, both set up by Gavin Hayes. Leonard sealed it with an empty-net goal, his second of the night, and Trey Augustine was in goal for the Griffins.
Grand Rapids came in at 3-1-1-0 and had won 14 of its previous 20 games against Rockford. Saturday was the first of 10 meetings between the clubs this season, and the second comes quickly: the teams face off again Sunday, Oct. 18, at 3 p.m. in Grand Rapids.
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