Vanacker scores twice as IceHogs rally past Griffins 6-4
Marek Vanacker scored his first two pro goals as Rockford came back from 3-0 down and ended Grand Rapids’ nine-game point streak.
Marek Vanacker scored twice in the second period as the Rockford IceHogs erased a three-goal deficit and beat the Grand Rapids Griffins 6-4 on Saturday at the BMO Center.
Grand Rapids took a 3-0 lead in the first period, with two of its three goals coming on the power play. Jamie Engelbert got Rockford on the board in the second before Vanacker scored his first professional goal at 7:07. Derrick Pouliot tied it on the power play at 11:32.
Vanacker put Rockford ahead at 14:22, converting a pass from Gavin Hayes after coming out of the penalty box. Sacha Boisvert made it 5-3 before the intermission with what proved to be the winning goal.
Jacob Bryson brought the Griffins within one with an extra attacker at 16:14 of the third, but A.J. Spellacy scored into the empty net at 18:17. It was Spellacy’s first professional goal.
The loss ended Grand Rapids’ nine-game point streak. The teams meet again Wednesday at Van Andel Arena.
