ROCHESTER, Minn. – In a crucial Central Division matchup, the Rochester Grizzlies saw themselves constantly playing from behind, ultimately falling 5-2 to the Wausau Cyclones.
The Grizzlies came out strong in the first 10 minutes of the game, dominating shots and time of possession and seemingly looked to be on the cusp of breaking the scoreless tie.
However, after the media timeout, the Grizzlies got lackadaisical on defense, allowing for Wausau’s Jackson Maddock (3) to bury a loose puck in front of the Rochester net.
Marty Raymond’s squad found a quick answer in the second period, as the third line went to work, with Baylor Stebbins (5) sending a one-timer past Brady Faille to tie things up.
Just when it seemed like the score would be even heading into the final period, a caroming puck off the stick of Tucker Gretebeck (1) found its way past Calum Keating with 43 seconds left.
The third period felt like deja vu of the second and first, with Rochester scoring quickly thanks to Tevin Stukel (3) to tie things up, before surrendering the eventual game winner to Jackson Schroeder (8) just 3:20 later.
The Cyclones would never look back after that, doubling their lead less than four minutes later and burying an empty-netter to secure a huge road victory.
Faille did the opposite of what his last name suggests, stopping 31 of 33 shots, including the initial offensive onslaught from Rochester.
For the Grizzlies, they have now lost five of their last seven contests, and are still searching for their first win against a team not named Peoria or Wisconsin.
The black and gold will have that opportunity in tomorrow’s rematch against Wausau, for Military Appreciation Night, donning limited edition military jerseys.
On Saturday afternoonin front of a packed crowd for Military Appreciation Night, the Rochester Grizzlies couldn’t climb out of a two-goal deficit in the third period, falling 3-2 to the Wausau Cyclones and getting swept in the weekend series.
Much like Friday’s matchup, the Grizzlies came out firing in the opening frame, controlling possession and outshooting Wausau 14–6.
This time, they got rewarded as Rylan Schultz (1) blasted home his first of the season to give Rochester an early 1-0 lead.
But as has been the case too often this year, the Grizzlies couldn’t hold the momentum long as Davis Polifka (1) tied the game just 42 seconds later for the Cyclones.
Wausau started to take over in the second period, capitalizing on a neutral-zone turnover that led to a Brandon Piwko (5) breakaway goal to make it 2-1. The middle frame also saw tempers flare, with Tevin Stukel and Brayden Ernst trading blows in a spirited fight that had the Rochester Recreation Center on its feet. Despite the energy boost, the Grizzlies headed to the locker room still trailing by one.
Entering the third 0-5-0-0 this season when trailing after two periods, Rochester showed flashes of urgency, but another defensive lapse proved costly.
Jackson Schroeder (10) found space behind the defense and beat Callum Keating on a breakaway midway through the frame to push Wausau’s lead to 3-1.
Moments later, Alex Arneson (2) trimmed the deficit to one with a point shot that found its way through traffic. Still, despite generating 14 third-period shots and multiple late chances, the Grizzlies couldn’t convert, highlighted by a 0-4 night on the power play, including a 6-on-4 late in the game.
The Grizzlies now move to 7-7-0-0 on the season and fourth place in the Central Division before taking on the best team in the Central, the St. Louis Jr. Blues, next weekend still searching for their first win outside of Peoria or Wisconsin.