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Bulldogs Late Rally Downs Griffins 2-1
Pearce keeps up his hot hand stopping 33 shots in lossÉ
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
February, 4th, 2011

Surging netminder Jordan Pearce turned in another beauty of a game, making 33 saves on 35 shots, but the Griffins Offense couldn't get him the win. Pearce also stopped a penalty shot in the third period, aggressively poke-checking the puck away. Adam Keefe opened the scoring with a nice individual effort to pot his career high third goal of the season. The Bulldogs rallied in the second half scoring in the second and third periods, while starter Curtis Sanford stopped everything else he saw.

Physical first period with some heavy hitting. Bonneau made contact with Pearce in the crease and Amadio took offense, dropping the gloves and engaging the bulldogs enforcer in a spirited bout. Keefe cruised around the net and flicked a shot from a bad angle that found the top corner to open the scoring. Shots on Goal: GR 10 - Ham 12.

Emmerton got stuck out for the full two minutes while killing a penalty, but Grand Rapids was able to keep it out of the net. They just missed hitting filppula with the breakaway pass as he came out of the box. Kolosov got tangled up and went into the boards funny. He was down for a long time and eventually left with help and went right down the tunnel, done for the night. Janik couldn't stop his man from making a play in the crease, converting a pass at the edge of the paint past Pearce to tie the game. The second period has been a clinic for Hamilton as they controlled play and put a lot of rubber on the Griffins beleaguered netminder. Shots on Goal: GR 4 - Ham 16.

The Bulldogs shut the game down defensively in the third. Grand Rapids can't get across the line with the puck without a Hamilton body or two taking away daylight. The Griffins are trying to use their speed to open things up a little, and it is starting to work. Pearce made a huge stop, coming out of the net to take the puck away. Ryan White got the puck from Wyman in the slot, and fired it over Pearce to take the lead. Palushaj stripped the puck away from the last man back at the line and went in alone on Pearce. Tatar swung his stick at the puck and took out Palushaj. The official pointed to center ice, awarding him a penalty shot. Pearce reached out and poked the puck away to make the save. The Griffins out everything they had on Sanford in the closing minutes. Pearce went to the bench for the extra attacked with one minute left, but Grand Rapids could not get it done. Shots on goal: GR 11 - Ham 7. For the Game: GR 25 - Ham 35.

Lines:
Owens - Johnson - Pare
Andersson - Emmerton - Tardif
Tatar - Filppula - Minard
Straub - Raedeke - Keefe

Pairings:
Janik - Meech
Amadio - Ehrhardt
Kolosov - Pyett

Starter: Pearce
Backup: McCollum

Scratches:
Lashoff Smith - shoulder

PP:
Andersson - Tardif - Emmerton
Pare - Meech/Janik

Minard - Filppula - Tatar
Pyett - Meech

PK:
Tardif - Emmerton
Janik - Ehrhardt

Tatar - Filppula
Kolosov - Meech

Owens - Andersson

Observations:

Wow, what a great game by Jordan Pearce! He made some huge stops and looked very composed. He probably deserved a win out of this one, but couldn't get any scoring help.

Raedeke was in high gear and especially late in the game, his speed was a large part of GR's attack.

Meech also had another strong game. He looks so fluid and moved the puck well all game.

I love the energy and compete level that Keefe is bringing this time around. Keep it up!


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