GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The Grand Rapids Griffins’ longest winning streak in four years ended Wednesday, but not without at least some controversy.

The Griffins, who had been unbeaten since Nov. 16, had their seven-game winning streak end with a 4-2 loss to Chicago, which scored three unanswered goals in the second and third periods before 6,290 at Van Andel Arena.

It was the game-tying goal late in the second period that created a stir. Alexandre Bolduc charged the net, slid into goalie Tom McCollum with defensemen Ryan Sproul and Adam Almquist covering, and the puck squirted between McCollum’s pads.

It took a three-minute review to confirm the goal, which came less than a minute after the Griffins had taken the lead.

"I had no idea where the puck was," McCollum said. "The guy fell into me as I was trying to find it, but was sliding backward. For all I know it could have hit his skate. To me, it felt like I got pushed, but that's part of the game. It happens and you move on."

The Wolves (12-10-0-2) tacked on two goals in the third period against McCollum, who was making his second start in eight games. He faced 26 shots.

The Griffins' last loss, ironically, also came against Chicago, but on the road. The Griffins (17-5-1-1) also had an eight-game home winning streak that dated back to Oct. 25 snapped. They remain eight points ahead of Rockford in the Midwest Division.

"With the streak we've had, it's tough to swallow this one, but we always talk about it being a process and we're going to win games and lose some games," said forward Riley Sheahan. "We've been fortunate to be playing hard and win some."

The Griffins had the lead briefly in the second period when Sheahan scored on a hard slap shot from the middle of the right circle on a five-on-three.

At the time, it was a big lift. The Griffins earlier in the period had killed a five-on-three, and Jeff Hoggan had tied the game with a shot from in front that he whipped past Jake Allen’s left side.

But it lasted only 47 seconds before Bolduc charged in for the game-tying goal with 2:40 left in the period.

Following the review, coach Blashill was told by referee Darcy Burchell that it was a good goal.



"In the end, they said that even if it was a kick motion, they say he got a stick on it so it didn't matter," he said he was told.

In the third, the Wolves got a power-play goal by Dmitrij Jaskin ,and Ty Rattie capped it with a goal with eight minutes remaining.

"I don't think we played great, but I don't think we played markedly different," Blashill said. "We've been in these types of games and found ways to score and change momentum. Tonight we found ways to give up goals and have momentum change."

Notes

It was just the second loss by more than a goal this season for the Griffins …Coach Jeff Blashill celebrated his 40th birthday Tuesday … McCollum was backed up by Jared Coreau from the ECHL's Toledo Walleye. Coreau in nine games has a 4.42 GAA and .865 save percentage for the struggling Walleye(5-11-3-0) …. The Griffins will complete their longest home stand of the season with home games Friday and Saturday against Milwaukee.

Chicago Wolves 4 at Grand Rapids Griffins 2

Chicago 1 1 2 - 4

Grand Rapids 0 2 0 - 2

1st Period-1, Chicago, Bolduc 4 (Porter, Mancari), 10:02. Penalties-Edmundson Chi (roughing), 6:47; Grant Gr (slashing), 15:14.

2nd Period-2, Grand Rapids, Hoggan 8 11:03. 3, Grand Rapids, Sheahan 6 (Paetsch, Pulkkinen), 16:33 (PP). 4, Chicago, Bolduc 5 (Shields), 17:20. Penalties-Bolduc Chi (interference), 0:35; Sheahan Gr (hooking), 6:22; Glendening Gr (hooking), 6:53; Andronov Chi (holding), 14:46; Shattock Chi (hooking), 15:13.

3rd Period-5, Chicago, Jaskin 7 (Mancari, Fairchild), 4:24 (PP). 6, Chicago, Rattie 9 (Jaskin, Locke), 12:16. Penalties-McIntyre Gr (slashing), 3:10; Oberg Chi (hooking), 8:44; Shattock Chi (interference), 16:55.

Shots on Goal-Chicago 10-6-10-26. Grand Rapids 7-16-6-29.

Power Play Opportunities-Chicago 1 / 4; Grand Rapids 1 / 6.

Goalies-Chicago, Allen 10-6-2 (29 shots-27 saves). Grand Rapids, McCollum 7-3-0 (26 shots-22 saves).

A-6,290

Referees-Darcy Burchell (42), Nic Leduc (12).

Linesmen-Ryan Daisy (90), Shaun Morgan (71).

