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McGrath's Overtime Marker Finished Moose 3-2
Spirited Effort Helps Griffins Win Season Finale...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
Evan McGrath sent the fans home happy with his 18th of season, an overtime game winner. Grand Rapids led the game 2-0 on goals by Darren Helm (16) and Frankie Lemieux (6), but the Moose came back late in the game providing some excitement and prompting the extra session. Jimmy Howard turned in a strong performance for his 21st win stopping 23 of 25 shots.
Grand Rapids took control of the first period, badly outplaying and outshooting the Moose. Despite the edge in scoring chances, Grand Rapids couldn't get anything past Schneider until late in the period. Just as a Moose penalty expired, Helm got the puck to the side of Schneider and snapped it in. The frustration in the Moose boiled over just before the period ended with Genoway choosing the wrong Griffin to take it out on - Ericsson who surprised the Manitoba winger, giving him quite a beating. Two seconds later another scrum broke out between Tardif and Brown, with Jamie holding his own. Shots on Goal: GR 14 - Man 4.
The Griffins went up by two at the 11:24 mark of the second on a goal by Lemieux. Grand Rapids putting the pressure on while shorthanded, and a hustling Lemieux flew by the net and let a bad angle shot go that beat Schneider, just as the penalty expired. The joy was short lived however as less than a minute later the Moose got on the board with Heshka scoring his 9th, on a shot that fooled Howard. Shots on Goal: GR 6 - Man 9.
Rypien challenged O'Leary to a bout midway through the third. O'Leary was willing but got more than he bargained for as Rypien landed several powerful blows, stunning the strapping left winger. The Moose tied things up less than two minutes later on a delayed penalty. Schneider went to the bench and before the Griffins could touch up, Hansen scored his 20th of the season on a bouncing shot from the slot that beat Howard. Shots on goal: GR 10 - Man 12.
Evan McGrath settled things just over two minutes into the extra session, taking a pass from Lemieux as he burned in on the right wing ripping a shot past Schneider for the game winner. Shots on goal: GR 1 - Man 0. For the Game: GR 31 - Man 25.
Lines:
Lemieux - McGrath - Gelech
Ritola - Helm - Corazzini
O'Leary - Tardif - Redenbach
Helm - Emmerton - Mueller
Pairings:
Ericsson - Stafford
Quincey - Galvin
Kindl - Insana
Starter: Howard
Backup: Berkhoel
Scratches:
Ference - wrist
Cullen - Shoulder
Oulahen - Knee
Torquato
PP:
Ritola - Helm - Corazzini
Stafford - Ericsson
Tardif - McGrath - Redenbach
Quincey - Kindl
PK:
Helm - Corazzini
Quincey - Galvin
O'Leary - Tardif
Stafford - Ericsson
Gelech - Redenbach
Observations:
Another solid effort by the team to close out a dismal season. Great for Evan McGrath to net the game winner, too bad he wasn't rewarded for his second half surge with a recall to Detroit.
Lemieux had another great game, hopefully he made an impression with the Wings brass and they Qualify him over the summer. His hustle and grit are qualities in short supply this season.
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