|
| |
Kolanos' Hat Trick Torches Griffins 5-1
Former Griffins burn lackluster home team...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
October 28, 2010
Abbotsford center Krys Kolanos scored his first three goals of the season to burn his former team 5-1. Another Grand Rapids Alumni, Clay Wilson, also scored for the Heat, helping the team score 3 powerplay goals on 7 chances. Chris Conner had the loan goal for the Griffins, less than a minute into the game. Joey MacDonald made 19 saves before being ejected following a second period fight, but still took the loss.
Grand Rapids got on the board early in the first on the rush when Nyquist threaded a pass through traffic that Conner one timed into the net behind Irving. On the next play Pyett took out Kolanos at the edge of the crease, knocking him into MacDonald and touching off a scrum. Aubry set up Pare for a nice shorthanded chance, but pare was hooked, negating the powerplay. Janik saved a sure goal by racing around the net and just getting his stick on the puck as it was shot into the open net. Amadio dropped the gloves with Desbiens but lost his balance and ended up on his butt. MacDonald was standing on his head late in the period, making some big saves. The Griffins' penalty trouble in the period finally caught up with them as former Griffin Clay Wilson notched a powerplay marker with just over a minute left in the period. Shots on Goal: GR 9 - Abb 16.
Pyett coughed up the puck to Kolanos who scored to put the Heat up by one early in the second. GR dug themselves a big hole, down by two men with Exelby gone for four minutes. The heat tallied another man advantage goal as the puck just trickled through MacDonald's pads five-hole. A couple of nice shifts by the Parkes-Raedeke-Coetzee line keeping the pick deep and creating scoring chances. An Abbotsford scoring chance stopped right in front turned into a line brawl as everyone on the ice paired up and Irving came down to challenge MacDonald. Both netminder's got the gate and Pearce came into the Griffins cage. Abbotsford made it 4-1 in the last minute of the second as Rheault finished off a 2-on-1 with Kolanos. Shots on Goal: GR 6 - Abb 9.
The Griffins were unable to get much going in the third and really appeared to be going through the motions. Kolanos put another nail in the coffin, completing his hat trick, when he flicked a shot from the circle into the net over Pearce on the powerplay to make it 5-1. Shots on goal: GR 8 - Abb 8. For the Game: GR 23 - Abb 33.
Lines:
Nyquist - Andersson - Conner
Tatar - Johnson - Nestrasil/Pare
Pare/Parkes - Raedeke - Coetzee
Estoclet - Aubry - Parkes/Nestrasil
Pairings:
Smith - Janik
Exelby - Pyett
Amadio - Lashoff
Starter: MacDonald
Backup: Pearce
Scratches:
Ehrhardt - Shoulder (5 to 6 weeks)
Ferraro - Concussion (day to day)
Callahan - Suspension
Piche
PP:
Nyquist - Andersson - Conner
Pare - Pyett
Tatar - Coetzee - Nestrasil
Smith - Johnson
PK:
Raedeke - Estoclet
Amadio/Pyett - Janik
Aubry - Pare
Smith - Exelby
Nyquist - Andersson
Observations:
It was a brutal loss on home ice for the struggling Griffins. I suppose something could be said for the opposing team's defense, but unfortunately the home team looked pretty indifferent most of the night especially in the latter stages of the game. Coach Fraser switched up a couple of players to try and get something going, but it was in vain.
Chris Conner had another great game. He used his speed and anticipation to steal the puck and had some good scoring chances. He obviously has some great chemistry with Nyquist and the two of them do a good job of getting the puck to each other for scoring chances.
I am normally a big fan of their center Joakim Andersson, but was looking for a change tonight as the big Swede just didn't look like he fit tonight. He is struggling in the circle and just not doing much with his size or skill to add to their offense.
Brent Raedeke had a good game and was very noticeable with his line with Coetzee and Parkes. The trio had good energy, especially in the latter stages of the game, getting the puck deep and creating scoring chances. They also brought a little physical play, something that for the most part was missing from this game.
Aubry was noticeable early in the game, doing the dirty work in the corner and using his size to win puck battles. He faded as the game went on, but didn't see as much ice in the latter going as the coach tried to find some offense.
I was also surprised Nestrasil didn't get some more ice time as he was doing an OK job of trying to get the puck to the net during his shifts. It would be nice to see what he can do with an extended chance playing with Tatar and Johnson, who he started the game with.
Pyett had a rough night on the blueline and his giveaways cost the team tonight.
Some of the team's top players, Pare, Tatar, Smith, Johnson, etc. need to start showing up on a consistent basis or this team will be in trouble.
|
|
