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Barons Double Up Griffins In 4-2 Loss
OKC gets some revenge for last seasons playoff ouster...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
February 21st, 2014
The Griffins got the monkey off their back late in the first period when Jarnkrok scored their first goal in over 117 minutes since last Friday. Unfortunately it was not enough as the visiting Oklahoma City Barons notched the next two goals and then added two after the Griffins other tally by McIntyre to take a 4-2 victory. Thomas McCollum looked strong in the loss making 24 saves, several of the highlight reel variety.
Hoggan had a breakaway, but ran out of room and fired the puck right into Bachman. The Barons come the other way with a 2-on-1, Paetsch dove to take away the pass but didn't and McCollum was forced to make an incredible save to keep the game scoreless. Nestrasil had a nice pop right in front, but Bachman made the save. Jarnkrok took a nice feed from Nestrasil in the circle and whipped a shot in over Bachman, glove side. Great work by Nestrasil along the board to win the battle, keep possession of the puck and get it through traffic to Jarnkrok. Shots on Goal: GR 8 - OKC 13.
Almquist got wiped out behind the net and Sheahan went over and had some words in front of the OKC bench. Jensen got the only penalty, arguing with the ref that there should have been a call. Hunt weaved his way through the Griffins and beat Paetsch at the line before cutting in on net and snapping the puck past McCollum for a powerplay goal. Callahan had a 2-on-1 with Jarnkrok made the stop and the rebound shot as well. Callahan followed up with a great steal in front that led to a brilliant dangerous scoring chance in close. Several other Griffins got chances off the rebounds as they cycled the puck.
Midway through the period, the Barons took the lead when Oscar Klefbom rifled a shot from the point to score his first career AHL goal. McIntyre tied things up when Frk fired the rebound of McIntyre's initial shot at the net, and it went in off of his skates to knot the score at two. Paetsch dropped the gloves with Pinizzotto in front of the net, and the two grappled and exchanged a few blows. Callahan had a chance, jamming away at the puck in front, but could not get it past Bachman's pad. Late in the period, with Nestrasil in the box for high-sticking, Hunt scored his second of the game, wiring a long shot from the line that cleanly beat McCollum five-hole. Shots on Goal: GR 10 - OKC 6.
Sheahan streaked in, showing off another gear, and fired the puck over the net. The Barons got a good bounce when the puck came off the end-boards and right onto the stick of Horak in front for an easy goal. Callahan had a big shot in front that rolled up Bachman's shoulder but stayed out. Ferraro had a spirited bout with Ewanyk in front of the benches. He took the worst of it, but got some good licks of his won in. With McCollum on the bench for the extra attacker, OKC shot the puck into the empty net, just as the buzzer sounded, so the goal did not count, leaving the Barons with a 4-2 win. Shots on Goal: GR 7 - OKC 9. For the Game: GR 25 - OKC 28.
Lines:
Hoggan - Nestrasil - Tootoo
Callahan - Jarnkrok - Pulkkinen
Ferraro - Sheahan - Emmerton
Grant - McIntyre - Frk
Pairings:
Ouellet - Sproul
Paetsch - Marchenko
Jensen - Almquist
Starter: McCollum
Backup: Mrazek
Scratches:
Jurco - Olympics (Announced as a scratch)
Parkes
Aubry
Evans - Rotating Veteran Scratch
Fournier
PP:
Callahan/Hoggan - Nestrasil - Jarnkrok
Pulkkinen - Almquist
Emmerton - Sheahan - Ferraro
Sproul - Paetsch
PK:
Callahan - Jarnkrok
Almquist - Jensen/Marchenko
Emmerton - Ferraro
Paetsch - Ouellet
McIntyre - Sheahan
Observations:
It was nice to see Grant's return to the line-up. He threw some big hits and didn't take any penalties, taking a regular shift on the 4th line.
The downside to that was the absence of Brennan Evans who was the rotating veteran scratch. The defense missed him tonight as it was much too easy to go the the Grand Rapids net and stay there.
McCollum had some big stops and made some athletic saves taking away a couple of "sure" goals.
Shout out to Nestrasil who had another good outing. he was an ace in the faceoff circle, taking draws for Jarnkrok on the powerplay. He had a couple of nice scoring chances, and set the table for for Jarnkrok's goal.
Callahan appears to be snakebit right now sitting at 19 gals. he attacked the net relentlessly tonight, but the puck just wouldn't go in for him.
For the first time this season, Jensen had some presence on the Griffins blueline. he made a couple of nice plays and got involved physically a little.
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