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Griffins Scare Monsters - Settle For 3-2 Victory
Bertuzzi breaks out for 3 point night...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
October 22nd, 2016
The Griffins caught a break tonight, beating the reigning Calder Cup champion Cleveland Monsters 3-2 at Van Andel Arena. Netminder Jared Coreau kept his team in the game despite a very lopsided shots on goal differential allowing the Griffins offense to get untracked. The line of Ben Street, Tyler Bertuzzi and Mitch Callahan was particularly dangerous, combining on all three Griffins goals. Things got tense late in the third as Grand Rapids barely held off a late rally to preserve the win.
Ben Street up the middle for a nice chance early. Mitch Callahan agitating by the net after the whistle. Coreau stared down Hannikainen on a breakaway and made a huge stop to keep the game scoreless. Griffins badly outplayed in this period. Getting beat to loose pucks and unable to contain the Monsters as they fly into the zone with possession. Shots on goal: GR 7 - CLE 16.
Joe Hicketts fired a heavy shot from the circle and Louis-Marc Aubry lifted the rebound to pick a corner but Forsberg just got back. Coreau gave the puck away in the corner and Zaar ended up with a nice scoring chance. Great job by Kyle Criscuolo to fight his way to the net carrying a monster on his back. He got a good scoring chance and drew a penalty. Svechnikov screening in front on the powerplay giving Forsberg fits. Street got behind the defense and went in alone on net, firing a shot off Forsberg's pads. Grand Rapids pressuring the net. Svechnikov peeled out of the corner and hit Street with a pass that he tucked under the netminder's pads for a 1-0 lead. Tempers flared after the whistle as Coreau took a stick in the mask which led to some pushing and shoving and a big scrum. Great steal by Street at the line, then fed to Tangradi for a shot and Bertuzzi came late and buried the rebound for a 2-0 lead. Shots on goal: GR 13 - CLE 10.
The Griffins came out in the third with a lot of jump. Bertuzzi had a strong chance in front with the puck laying in the crease, but he couldn't get untangled to bat it in. Russo fired a point shot that cleanly beat Forsberg to push the score to 3-0. Grand Rapids is really laying siege to the Cleveland net cycling the puck and creating chances. The Monsters finally broke the shutout bid on their 32nd shot, late in the third period. A defensive breakdown allowed Tynan to circe behind the net with the puck and feed Broadhurst for a tap in on the wide open side of the net. Forsberg to the bench with two minutes and change left for the extra skater. The Griffins struggled to clear the puck and Broadhurst chipped a shot in over Coreau during a scramble in front with 26 seconds left. Coreau made some big saves before GR managed to clear the zone and run the clock down on a 3-2 win. Shots on goal: GR 12 - CLE 13. For the game: GR 32 - CLE 39.
Lines:
Bertuzzi - Street - Callahan
Tangradi - Lorito - Mantha
Svechnikov - Aubry - Criscuolo
Borkowski - Turgeon - Campbell
Pairings:
Lashoff - Jensen
Paetsch - Russo
Hicketts - Renouf
Starter: Coreau
Backup: Pasquale
Scratches:
#11 Cleary - Veteran
#39 Sadowy
#37 Nastasiuk
#44 Allen
#55 Ford - Veteran
PP:
Callahan - Lorito - Tangradi
Paetsch - Mantha
Bertuzzi - Criscuolo/Street - Svechnikov
Hicketts - Russo
PK:
Tangradi - Campbell
Lashoff - Jensen
Callahan - Street/Aubry
Paetsch - Renouf
Observations:
The starting line of Street between Bertuzzi and Callahan was dangerous all night, creating chances and buzzing around the Cleveland Net. It was great to see Street and Bertuzzi get untracked and put up some numbers to go with their hard work.
Coreau was the difference maker tonight stopping 31 shots before giving up a goal including 16 in the first period.
Russo stood out this evening, not because of the goal he scored, but because he did a good job of moving the puck out of the zone and even leading a couple of breakouts up ice.
Borkowski didn't see a ton of ice time, but really looked to be battling and working hard in his 4th line role.
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