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Griffins Minard Mashes Monsters 6-1
Surging Sniper scores second hat trick in five games...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
January 24th, 2012
Chris Minard is making up for lost time after missing most of the season with lingering concussion issues. The red-hot sniper scored his second hat trick in five games, giving him 12 goals in 15 games and added an assist for a 4-point night. Ty Conklin, making his second start for the Griffins, didn't see much work, stopping 17 of 18 shots for the win. Grand Rapids also got goals from Conner (11), Andersson (14) and Janik (7), and a 4-assist night from center Jamie Johnson.
Pare ripped a shot from the point that was redirected in front by Conner and past Desjardins glove side. Mauldin popped one past Conklin a few minutes later to knot the score at one. Smith got tangled up with a Monsters player and got sent to the sin bin, negating a Griffins powerplay. Pare had a breakaway, but lost the puck and barreled into the net. Shots on goal: GR 12 - LE 6.
Callahan had a nice scoring chance in front and it led to a big scrum behind the net. Nyquist was sprung on a breakaway but was interfered with from behind and slid into Desjardins. Brunnstrom had a point blank shot on net, and Andersson the late man flew up the slot and blew the rebound past Desjardins for a goal. Brunnstrom appeared to score off a nifty feed from Nyquist, but the ref called it back and said it was kicked in. Great possession by the Johnson line to keep the puck deep and keep cycling it until Minard got it in the slot and one-timed it past Desjardins stick side. Shots on goal: GR 11 - LE 8.
Nice two-on-one shorthanded between Conner and Nyquist with Gustav just running out of room to get off a good shot. Janik made it 4-1 when he cranked a seeing eye shot from the line through traffic and into the back of the net. Callahan and Chouinard came to blows in front of the penalty box and Callahan put the hurt on the Monsters' blueliner. Johnson hit Minard on the edge of the paint and the Griffins' sniper roofed it for his second of the game. Tatar, the last man back, turned over the puck, giving Mauldin a breakaway but Conklin came up big and shut him down. Grand Rapids capped the scoring with just 24 seconds left when Johnson left a drop pass for Minard who stroked a shot past Desjardins from the bottom of the circle to complete the hat trick. Shots on goal: GR 14 - LE 4. For the Game: GR 40 - LE 18.
Lines:
Nyquist - Andersson - Brunnstrom
Tatar - Johnson - Minard
Conner - Ferraro - Pare
Parkes - Aubry - Callahan
Pairings:
Janik - Pyett
Lashoff - Smith
Exelby - Ehrhardt
Starter: #34 Conklin
Backup: McCollum
Scratches:
Brent Raedeke
Willie Coetzee
PP:
Tatar - Johnson - Minard
Janik - Pyett
Nyquist - Andersson - Brunnstrom
Lashoff - Smith
PK:
Conner - Nyquist
Lashoff - Exelby
Tatar - Pare
Janik - Ehrhardt
Brunnstrom - Andersson
Observations:
Another solid game by Brendan Smith. He was very involved and energetic especially offensively, jumping up in the play and pinching in.
Brunnstrom had another strong game, setting his linemates up and creating plays, he just can't seem to catch a break and get it in the net.
Callahan was very feisty tonight, seemingly in the middle of all the scrums and jawing with opposing players. He did this without sacrificing the rest of his game and was very effective
Parkes also played a physical game banging along the boards with Callahan and playing with a chip on his shoulder. All three 4th liners played a strong physical game and had some huge hits. Aubry was very aggressive in using his size and speed to challenge the puck carrier.
Tatar was strong on the cycle and dangerous along the boards. He didn't go to the net that often, but playing with Minard, he took on the role of digger, getting the pucks out for his linemates.
Ferraro didn't see much ice time as the game went on. He was on the bench, but Fraser did not seem to want to play him much.
Frankie Pare is slumping again and snake bit around the net. He missed so many great chances and appears frustrated.
Conklin looked very calm and composed and that strength really seemed to energize the skaters in front of him.
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