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Training Camp
Griffins Tame Bulldogs 3-1
GR Snaps 7 game home losing streak...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com

The home team finally showed up for a full 60 minutes, and the result was their first home win since December 11th, breaking a 7 game losing streak. Frankie Pare scored the club's first shorty of the season, Tatar notched his 10th and Emmerton added an empty netter for the win. Daniel larsson was stellar in the net stopping 39 shots from the AHL's 2nd best team. The griffins finish up their three games in three nights weekend this afternoon against Rockford.

The bad blood between these two teams carried over from their last few meetings in which GR was outscored 12-5. Sergei Kolosov dropped the gloves with irritant Ryan White just 21 seconds in, pummeling the bulldogs winger with a series of solid blows in a pretty one-sided bout. Grand Rapids had a good period with a lot of energy and jump. Tomas Tatar gave the Griffins a lead just as a powerplay expired, taking a Rissmiller pass backdoor and burying it. Shots on Goal: GR 10 - Ham 11.

The second was period was still tilted in the Griffins direction and with the exception of some penalty trouble alter in the period, the home team carried the play. Cory Emmerton sprang Frankie Pare on a partial break and Pare backhanded a shot past Sanford for the team's first shorthanded goal of the season. The Bulldogs got some great chances towards the end of the period when they were awarded a 5-on-3 powerplay. Larsson came up huge making some point blank saves to keep Hamilton off the board. Shots on Goal: GR 9 - HAM 13.

Ryan White broke the goose egg midway through the third, beating a Griffins defenseman to a rebound in the circle and jamming it past Larsson. Pyett got smoked with a blindside late hit by Stewart and lay on the ice for a few minutes to get his bearings. There was no penalty on the play but Mursak went right over to challenge. Sanford got called to the bench for the extra attacker and Hamilton started to press. Larsson came up with a couple of huge stops to preserve the lead. Emmerton stole the puck at center ice and fired it into the empty to ice the win. Shots on Goal: GR 5 - HAM 17. For the Game: GR 29 - PEO 28.

Lines:
Tatar - Rissmiller - Mursak
Ritola - Nylander - Vigilante
McGrath - Newbury - Williams
Lemieux - Emmerton - Pare

Pairings:
Kolosov - Crosty/Pyett
Kindl - Janik/Crosty
Delmore - Janik
Fraser had the defense mixing and matching all night, leading to several different combos.

Starter: Larsson
Backup: Pearce

Scratches:
Tardif - Injury
Crosty - Scratch

PP:
Tatar - Rissmiller - Mursak
Delmore - Janik

Ritola/Tatar - Nylander - Williams
Kindl - Pyett



PK:
Newbury - Pare
Kolosov - Pyett

Emmerton - Vigilante
Janik - Kindl



Three Stars:
3 White - Ham
2 Pare - GR
1 Larsson - GR

Observations:

It felt like a stanley cup win when the team finally got the monkey off its back with the win.

First and foremost Daniel larsson came up with a great game. He had some help, but answered his critics with a gem of a performance.

Emmerton really was in the game tonight and played with intensity and enthusiasm. He could have easily had a couple of goals to go with his empty netter.

Really impressed with Kolosov and Pyett again this evening. They played with energy and were solid at both ends. Nice to see the mean streak come out with Kolosov who could benefit from adding a little more snarl to his game.

Vigilante did not look out of place with Ritola and Nylander and did a good job of working the corner and getting open for shots.

I could go on and say more about Tatar and Pare who along with Mursak are really getting it done offensively. Our young guns are coming into their own.


Official Game Sheet