|
| |
Kiiskinen's Hat Trick Whips Wolves
Rookie's four point nights powers Griffins offense...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
October 11th, 2026
Rookie winger Jesse Kiiskinen scored early and often for the home Grand Rapids Griffins, powering them to a 5-1 win over the visiting Chicago Wolves. Kiiskinen scored twice in the first period and then a third time early in the second to notch the hat trick, the first by a Griffins rookie since 2013. He added an assist later on a goal by linemate Dylan James to top things off. Michal Postava won his 3rd game in three tries, tops in the AHL and added an assist for good measure. Captain Dominik Shine scored the last goal, his 100th pro tally.
First Period
Faceoff win by Ondrej Becher, back to Justice Christiansen who took it behind the net and started a breakout. Dylan James shot into the Wolves zone, using his speed to beat the wolves' defender, but was just angled off from getting a prime scoring chance. Cameron Butler with a dangerous chance from a bad angle along the goal line. Alex Kannik Leipert held the puck in at the line and fired a long shot that was redirected in the slot by Kienan Draper for his first goal. The celebration was short lived however, as it was waived off for goalie interference. John Leonard blocked a shot, then followed the bounce out of the Griffins zone for a rush, but no scoring chance. James in front with a chance but he fired it wide. Kiiskinen shot in on the net and blew it by Sawchenko, glove side for a 1-0 lead. James flying down the wing was knocked to the ice, setting up a Griffins powerplay. However, Kiiskinen took a quick penalty, making it a 4-on-4. Pretty passing play between Theo Rochette and Carter Bear. Shai Buium tried a wraparound and was denied and then Bear tried to chip it in and was stopped. Give and go play with Kiiskinen and Draper. Kiiskinen got it back in the circle and put it in over Sawchenko for a 2-0 lead. Ronnie Attard was cross-checked in the back and after the play went over to have words with the offending Wolves player. Carter Bear stole the puck and set up a two-on-one with Shine but couldn't get the puck over to him. Theo Rochette to the box for holding, after a nasty scrum broke out. Grand Rapids killed the penalty and thanks to a Wolves penalty, enjoyed a short powerplay.
Shots on goal: GR 6 - Chi 6.
Second Period
Early in the second, Kiiskinen with a highlight reel play, split the defense and walked in alone on net and roofed it to complete the hat trick. Chicago point-blank shot in front and Postava had to be sharp. Chicago crashed the net and scored in traffic, taking out Postava in the process. The goal was reviewed to see if it was kicked in, but it was ruled a good goal. Great play by Bryson to work the puck deep in the offensive zone, circle the net and setup Leonard for a chance in the slot. Grand Rapids back on the powerplay. Bear with a big drive from the point, Shine in front just missed on the rebound. Turnover at the line and the wolves got a 2-on-0 short-handed breakaway, but Postava did the splits and kept it out. Draper mishandled the puck and almost turned it over but battled to keep it from becoming a scoring chance. The Griffins doing a good job of cycling the puck and creating shots. Justice Christiansen got tied up with a Wolves player on the ice near the GR net. The game is getting more chippy as Chicago tries to exert its will. Rochette steal, took the puck end to end and lost it. Draper with a high flip pass over the Wolves defense to a streaking shine who took it to the net but was angled off into the corner. Griffins two-on-one with James and Becher but James fell trying to sidestep a Wolves player as he passed.
Shots on goal: GR 8 - Chi 10.
Third Period
Rochette with another partial breakaway, in alone on the goalie but didn't get a good shot off. Kiiskinen and James with another two-on-one, and this time James wired a wicked one-timer past Sawchenko for a 4-1 lead. Dominik Shine in on the forecheck, rushed the passer allowing Bear to steal the puck. As he went to the net he was taken down, setting up a Griffins powerplay. Bear with a shot from the circle and Shine in front for the tip to push the lead to 5-1. That goal was Shine's 100th professional goal. Justice Christiansen to the box late for tripping. Gritty play by Alex Kannok Leipert to sacrifice the body with a huge shot black to take away what looked like a grad A chance. Sick play by Bear to kick in the afterburners to catch the defender going back for the puck, steal the puck, and then kick it to his stick as he was turning to keep the play onside for a scoring chance. Scramble in front of Postava with several good chances, but somehow it stayed out.
Shots on Goal: GR 8 - Chi 7. For the Game: GR 22 - Chi 23.
Starting Lines:
11 Bear - 93 Rochette - 65 Shine
70 Dower-Nilsson - 32 Skoog - 19 John Leonard
26 James - 25 Becher - 92 Kiiskinen
42 Butler - 33 Draper - 27 Nolan Moyle
Pairings:
78 Jacob Bryson - 3 Ronnie Attard
8 Shai Buium - 41 Alex Kannok Leipert
37 William Lagesson - 83 Justice Christiansen
Starter: #35 Postava
Backup: #30 Augustine
Scratches:
20 Truscott
61 Stillman
82 Muzzatti (Injured)
84 Tag Bertuzzi
PP:
70 Dower-Nilsson - 93 Rochette - 92 Kiiskinen
8 Buium - 19 Leonard
11 Bear - 32 Skoog - 65 Shine
25 Becher - 78 Bryson
PK:
26 James - 33 Draper
37 Lagesson - 83 Christiansen/41 Kannok Leipert
65 Shine - 32 Skoog
78 Bryson - 3 Attard
Observations:
Big night for Jesse Kiiskinen who is now the AHL's leading rookie scorer and point getter. He looked confident and went to the net at every opportunity. He also really showed chemistry and magic with linemate Dylan James, and it was excited to watch the two of them weaving in and out of traffic and making plays together.
Coach Watson said he told Kienan Draper that his goal would have counted in any league other than the AHL, as the AHL does not allow reviews of calls for goalie interference. Draper does however remain tied for second among AHL rookies in assists with 3 in 5 games, and has not looked out of place taking a regular shift.
Sniper John Leonard made his season debut after missing the first 4 games with an injury. Parts of his game looked good, his skating most noticeably, but his shot lacked the zing of last season form and he was a little slower in getting it off.
|
|
