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Griffins Fall Again 3-1 to Rochester
Penalties kill home ice advantage...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
Grand Rapids probably deserved better than they got this evening, but in the end it was the same old story, a fourth straight home loss. The Griffins came out on the wrong side of a penalty fest courtesy of having 4 on-ice officials for the game. Four of the nine GR powerplays were killed by untimely penalties, and also gave Rochester several five-on-three advantages. Brett Engelhardt scored the lone tally for the home time while Adam Berkhoel gave up 3 goals on 24 shots for his third loss of the season.
Cullen got sent off 34 seconds into the game and GR lost precious energy and momentum killing it off. Gelech negated the first Griffins powerplay with a bad offensive zone penalty. This was closely followed by a high-sticking penalty to Kindl setting up a 5-on-3 for Rochester. Great work on the PK by Tardif, Oulahen and Ericsson. Grand Rapids is starting to show some life, playing the body and making plays. Shots on goal GR 11 - Peoria 7.
Grand Rapids lost another powerplay when Engelhardt took a penalty 8 seconds in and left the teams 4 on 4. Just shy of four minute mark, Rochester got on the board when Kindl turned over the puck around the net and Zagrapan went behind and scored on the wrap-around. A few minutes later on another 5-on-3 powerplay, the Amerks swarming the net got off several great point blank shots before Zagrapan banged it home for his second of the game. Berkhoel is getting very little help, making several great stops, but no-one cleared the crease. Ericsson dropped the gloves with Anthony Stewart, but came out on the wrong side of the bout, taking several good punches before manhandling Stewart to the ice. Nice two-on-one passing play with Hartigan getting a couple of stellar shots on Dennis. A scrum brike out in the corner with former Wings camp tryout Jassen Cullimore getting the penalty. Once Cullimore came out of the box, Keefe challenged him and got a couple of licks in before they grappled to the ice. Great job by Keefe to stick up for Hartigan and send a message to the other team. Later in the period Helm came out of the box, picked up the puck and streaked in alone on Dennis for a great chance. Grand Rapids looks to have turned a corner and is really turning up their play. Shots on goal GR 12 - Peoria 10.
Engelhardt stole the puck in front and banged it home to put GR on the board. Gelech ended another Griffins powerplay with a penalty, taking out his man after a Berkhoel giveaway. Rochester missed an open net on a 5 on 3, but MacArthur made it 3-1 when his bullet from the top of the circle found the top corner of the net stick side. Shots on goal GR 11 - Peoria 7. For the game GR 24 - Quad City 34.
Lines:
Engelhardt - Corazzini - Cullen
Ritola - Hartigan - Gelech
Oulahen/Keefe - McGrath - Tardif/Keefe
Engelhardt - Helm - Keefe
Pairings:
Stafford - Quincey
Ference - Ericsson
Insana - Kindl
Starter: Berkhoel
Backup: Rudkowsky
Scratches:
Ryno
Galvin
PP:
Ritola/Oulahen - Hartigan - Gelech
Kindl - Quincey
Engelhardt - Corazzini - Cullen
Ericsson - Stafford
PK:
Tardif - Oulahen
Ference - Ericsson
Corazzini- Cullen/McGrath
Ericsson - Stafford
Hartigan - Gelech
Observations:
As always it was great to catch up with Christy. Also nice to meet SBM and put a name with a face.
Jakub Kindl had a rough night, coughing up the puck and making bad decisions all night.
Gelech was one of the goats on the evening taking several untimely penalties, negating two of his own powerplays.
Mattias Ritola played his best game of the young season, playing determined and fighting for the puck.
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