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Griffins Rally Falls Short in Shootout Loss
Veteran Corazzini leads offense again...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
In what has become a familiar story this season, the Griffins were not ready to play until late in the game, and it cost them again. Carl Corazzini led the Griffins rally, notching his 23rd goal and late in the game setting up Jonathan Ericsson's powerplay game tying tally. But it was too little to late as the home team fell in the shootout, only managing to get one shot past Dov-Grumet Morris. Adam Berkhoel made 32 saves during the game, plus 3 of 5 in the shootout in a losing effort.
Grand Rapids was not ready to go at the drop of the puck, lacking the spark that Milwaukee came out of the gate with. John Vigilante put the Admirals on the board early in the period, taking advantage of a pileup in front. He picked the puck out of the pile and flicked it between Berkhoel's glove and the post. Helm had a chance to tie the score with a great individual effort while shorthanded, gifting the puck to Corazzini right in the front. Thuresson made it 2-0 when he redirected a point shot from the slot past Berkhoel through traffic. Corazzini cut the lead in half, notching a powerplay marker with under a minute left in the period as the Griffins finally started to pick up the pace. Shots on Goal: GR 11 - Mil 11.
The second period was more of the same with Milwaukee outplaying Grand Rapids for a lot of the period, but Adam Berkhoel came up big, making several huge stops to keep the game close. Redenbach had a nice break but was corkscrewed into the ice without a penalty being called. Tardif wen to the net chasing a puck, and crashed the crease, taking out Morris and drawing quite a crowd. Shots on Goal: GR 9 - Mil 17.
Jonathan Ericsson tied the game less than a minute into the third, cranking a monster point blast past Morris for his 10th of the season. The Griffins dominated the third period, playing with more energy and passion than the first two periods, but were unable to get another puck past the Admirals goaltender. A late powerplay for GR carries over into the overtime. Shots on goal: GR 15 - Mil 4.
The overtime was all Griffins as they had several great chances, but had problems handling the puck in the Milwaukee zone. Shots on goal: GR 5 - Mil 2. For the Game: GR 40 - Mil 35.
The Shootout:
Round One: Santorelli went first for Milwaukee, blazing in on Berkhoel and firing the puck into his pads. Corazzini streaked in on Morris and snapped a shot under his glove for a goal.
Round Two: Guerriero tied it up ripping a shot low stick side into the net. McGrath went next, firing a shot that Morris stopped with a pad save.
Round Three: Ellison put Milwaukee ahead mimicking Guerriero's shot low stick side. Stafford made a nice move and slid the puck wide of the net.
Round Four: Vigilante missed the net on his chance followed by Ericsson doing the same.
Round Five: Janne Niskala rang a shot off the post. Redenback took a shot that just about snuck through, but Morris had it in the glove for the win.
Lines:
Ritola - Helm - Corazzini
O'Leary - Oulahen - Gelech/Torquato/#19 Novotney
Tardif - McGrath - Redenbach
Pairings:
Ericsson - Stafford
Quincey - Galvin
Kindl - Jozsa
Starter: Berkhoel
Backup: #35 O'Keefe
Scratches:
Ference - wrist
Cullen - Shoulder
Insana
Lemieux
PP:
Oulahen - Helm - Corazzini
Stafford - Ericsson
Tardif - McGrath - Redenbach
Jozsa - Kindl
PK:
Helm - Corazzini
Quincey - Galvin
O'Leary - Oulahen
Stafford - Ericsson/Kindl
Tardif - Gelech
Observations:
Corazzini played a strong game, buzzing around the admirals net all night. He has shown great chemistry with Helm, and the two of them have used their speed and presence to make some incredible plays.
Kyle Quincey played a very strong game, and the last stretch may be playing the best he has in two years. He is solid in his own end, is attacking the offensive zone, and has exhibited a mean streak that has been inconsistent at best before.
Berkhoel turned in a strong performance, but it never seems to be enough with him. I don't know if the team doesn't believe in him, or if he is just unlucky, but he never seems to be able to take a big game.
Tardif had several good chances around the net, but was snakebitten and couldn't get a good shot off. He is still taking face-offs, but has not been getting the shot off well lately, I wonder if he is sporting an injury.
Kindl was very noticeable, moving the puck well.
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