IHL recaps for Dec. 22, 1997

Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1997 | 4:32 a.m.

Fort Wayne Comets 3, Grand Rapid Griffins 2

Grand Rapids, Mich -- Center Viacheslav Butsayev scored once in regulation and again in the shootout to give the Fort Wayne Comets a 3-2 victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins in International Hockey League action on Monday night.

The Comets handed the Griffins their first shootout loss at home as Fort Wayne could not solve goaltender Bruce Racine. Andrei Bashkirov also scored on his shooutout attempt.

Mark Greig had given Grand Rapids the lead at 5:45 of the first period, but Guy Dupuis equalized for the visitors at 19:43. After a scoreless second period, Butsayev put Fort Wayne ahead at 12:15 before Brian Sullivan forced the shootout with a goal at 13:17.

Grand Rapids left wing Michel Picard, playing in his 600th career game, assisted on the first goal.

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