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Bulldogs Maul Griffins 5-2
Penalties key embarrassing loss...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
February 3rd, 2012
The Griffins teased the Bulldogs powerplay a few too many times and it came back to bite them in an embarrassing one-sided 5-2 loss. Hamilton connected for three powerplay goals in eight chances to jump out to a 5-1 lead before allowing a late shorthanded goal by veteran blueliner Doug Janik. Chris Minard had the other Griffins tally, a powerplay marker in the first. Thomas McCollum gave up all five goals in two periods of work, and Jordan Pearce held Hamilton off the board in the third.
The first period started out pretty slow with both teams feeling each other out and a lot of neutral zone play. Later in the period with Smith in the box for his third penalty of the game, Hamilton got a powerplay goal from Fortier. The Griffins got it back when Conner in the circle hit Minard in the slot for a quick redirection and a Powerplay goal. There was a big scrum in the corner late in the period with Callahan in the middle. Pyett took down a Bulldogs player with just a couple of seconds left to break up a scoring chance. Shots on Goal: GR 8 - Ham 8.
The Bulldogs started the second really taking the puck to McCollum and taking over the game. Another penalty by Pyett put Hamilton on the powerplay and they capitalized right away with Willsie clanking a shot in off the post. The Griffins are having all sorts of penalty trouble and can't stay out of the box. Another man advantage goal makes it 3-1 Hamilton. FitzGerald took runs at several Grand Rapids players and it came to a head when he was dumped in front of the Griffins net and then attacked Smith with his stick. FitzGerald completely melted down and had to be restrained by the linesman and forcibly removed from the ice. He was given a high-sticking major and a game misconduct. Exelby also went to the box cutting the PP to three minutes. Sloppy play by the Griffins while 4 on 4 ended up in the net behind McCollum to give the Bulldogs a 4-1 lead. Another Griffins penalty pretty much killed off the rest of the major and then the Bulldogs scored again to add insult to injury. Shots on Goal: GR 6 - Ham 16.
Pearce in for McCollum to start the third. Ehrhardt lost the puck right in front and almost made it 6-1. GR showing a little life in the third. Henry came out of the box, picked up the breakout pass and went in alone on Pearce but shot it wide. Janik wrested a shorty from the point that floated past Lawson to cut the lead to three. But that was all the offense the Griffins could muster and the game ended. Shots on goal: GR 15 - Ham 4. For the Game: GR 29 - Ham 28.
Lines:
Tatar - Ferraro/Coetzee - Pare
Nyquist - Andersson - Brunnstrom
Minard - Johnson - Conner
Callahan - Raedeke - Coetzee
Pairings:
Lashoff - Ehrhardt
Janik - Pyett
Exelby - Smith
Starter: McCollum
Backup: Pearce
Scratches:
Aubry
Parkes
Piche
PP:
Tatar - Ferraro - Pare
Janik - Pyett
Nyquist - Andersson - Brunnstrom
Exelby - Smith
PK:
Johnson - Conner
Janik- Ehrhardt
Tatar - Pare
Exelby - Lashoff
Raedeke - Callahan
Observations:
Brutal game, not much good to say.
Ehrhardt and Lashoff looked solid most of the night and are really developing into some good young blueliners.
Smith was agitated and undisciplined and was noticeable for the wrong reasons.
Willie Coetzee made some great plays tonight including a pair of passes that he banked off the boards to himself on the same rush to beat Hamilton players while rushing the puck up the ice. If he can find the confidence to do that on a regular basis, he should be very dangerous.
Brunnstrom did a great job in the neutral zone to break up plays and send the puck up ice. You could tell Hamilton was a little frustrated they couldn't get the puck by him.
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