BOYS HOCKEY: Grand Forks Central's burst of third-period goals leads to 6-4 victory against Davies

Grand Forks Central was looking for a spark. Ryan Griggs provided it.

The senior forward’s tying goal started a spurt of three third-period goals in a six-minute span. The outburst rallied the Knights to a 6-4 boys high school hockey win against visiting Fargo Davies on Tuesday.

The win pushed the 13-7-0 Knights past idle Grafton-Park River into first place in the East Region standings, one point ahead of the Spoilers (28-27). Central also clinched a quarterfinal home game in next week’s region tournament for the Knights.

Griggs got possession of the puck near the blue line, made a move on a defenseman and walked in and beat goalie Alex Kruger high on the short side. That tied the score 3-3 at the 7:35 mark.

“That was the turning point,’’ Central coach Grant Paranica said. “We were teetering a little. That goal sort of infused us with some energy.

“We’re pretty balanced. But Ryan is one of the guys who has made some big goals for us.’’

Central took the lead when Austin Johnson passed across the goal mouth to a waiting Cam Olstad, who was open and stuffed the puck in for the backdoor score.

The two hooked up again, this time Olstad to Johnson, for a 5-3 lead with 3:27 remaining.

“We told the kids between periods that we thought we were getting good opportunities,’’ Paranica said. “We felt if we could continue to put the puck on the net, eventually the shots would go in. And they came in buckets.’’

Davies made it a one-goal game when, after pulling its goalie, Alex Groth scored. But Cole Kirchoffner iced the win with an empty-net score with 28 seconds left.

“We’re a team that has scored in bunches and come back in games all year long,’’ Davies coach Brian Davidson said. “But that sixth one, it really deflates you.’’

Davies had answers for Central for two-plus periods. The Eagles took a 1-0 lead on a Tristan Hartness goal 16:14 into the game. Central came back twice, tying the score at 1-1 and 2-2, only to see the Eagles score to regain their one-goal lead.

But Davies couldn’t hold off Central again after Griggs tied the game for a third time.

“We had a couple of breakdowns,’’ Davidson said. “We weren’t in the right position. We didn’t have them covered and they found the open guys.’’

The loss dropped Davies, which entered the game one point behind the Knights in region standings, to 14-5-0.

1/4: Grand Forks Central's Ryan Griggs scores an unassisted goal as Fargo Davies goalie Alex Kruger looks away in the third period Tuesday in Grand Forks. photo by Eric Hylden/Grand Forks Herald

2/4: Grand Forks Central's Cole Kirchoffner tries to get the puck away from Fargo Davies Cody Haiskanen in an East Region game at Grand Forks Tuesday. photo by Eric Hylden/Grand Forks Herald

3/4: Grand Forks Central's Kaden Monette (10) and Ryan Griggs (8) look down ice for the puck as Fargo Davies' Logan Naylor (6) and goalie Alex Kruger defend in an East Region game at Grand Forks Tuesday. photo by Eric Hylden/Grand Forks Herald

4/4: Grand Forks Central's Hyatt Hruska scores the Knights first goal Tuesday against Fargo Davies in an East Region game at Grand Forks.. photo by Eric Hylden/Grand Forks Herald