John Leonard’s hat trick leads Griffins past IceHogs

John Leonard scored a hat trick and added an assist as the Grand Rapids Griffins beat the Rockford IceHogs 6-3 on Wednesday at Van Andel Arena.

Leonard put Grand Rapids ahead on the power play with two seconds left in the first period. He scored again on a breakaway in the second and completed his hat trick 3:41 into the third. It was his second hat trick against Rockford this season.

Carter Bear helped set up both Grand Rapids goals in the first, scored on the power play in the second and added an empty-net goal. His two goals and two assists extended his point streak to six games.

Nate Danielson had three assists in his first AHL game of the season, including two on Leonard’s goals. Detroit assigned both forwards to Grand Rapids on Sunday. Danielson had two assists in 13 NHL games before the move.

Grand Rapids went 3-for-8 on the power play. Rockford’s Dominic Toninato scored twice.