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Bulldogs Double-Up on Griffins 6-3
Record Setting Losing Streak at Home Reaches Seven...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
The Griffins dropped their ninth straight game and moved to 0-7 at home with a lopsided 6-3 loss to the Hamilton Bulldogs. Rookie blueliner Jakub Kindl scored his first professional goal in the loss, adding to markers by Corazzini (6) and Helm (2). Jimmy Howard gave up 6 goals on 23 shots before being yanked in favor of Adam berkhoel midway through the third.
Hamilton got on the board early, scoring at just over the one minute mark, as O'Byrne fired a shot through traffic that found the top corner of the net. Corazzini evened the score seven minutes later when he snapped a shot from just outside the top of the circle, bulging the twine behind Danis stick-side. Rookie Darren Helm had a couple of great chances in front, but lifted it high. A defensive breakdown left Hamilton 2-on-1 against Ference, who couldn't take the pass away, allowing Locke to one-time the puck into the open side of the net. Grand Rapids evened things up on the powerplay two minutes later with Kindl launching a shot from the point that changed directions before entering the net low, glove-side. Shots on goal GR 17 - Peoria 8.
Grand Rapids can't seem to handle the puck well to start the second, but managed some nice pressure on Danis once they get it in that end. Ericsson stopped a sure goal by diving behind a sprawled out Howard and blocking the shot. With Ericsson in the box for holding the stick, Hamilton took the lead on a goal by Degon who snuck in back-door and slammed a pass from Locke into the empty net. Shots on goal GR 14 - Ham 6.
Everything fell apart in the third period as the Griffins lost their composure. just over four minutes into the period, Kindl lost a shoving match a the edge of the crease, and Hamilton capitalized, chipping the puck home for a 4-2 lead. About a minute later Urquhart went to the front of the net and whacked a puck out of mid-air that bounced through Howard five-hole to make it 5-2. The Griffins answered 17 seconds later when Helm sent a wicked wrister from the bottom of the circle past Danis. The Bulldogs added the capper a minute later, regaining a three goal lead when Ferland sent a weak, bad-angle shot past a struggling Howard high, stick-side. That goal sent Jimmy to the showers, replaced by Berkhoel. Adam Keefe melted down in the closing minutes of the game, challenging everyone including the Hamilton bench. He got the gate, leaving the Griffins shorthanded for most of the rest of the game effectively killing off the slim hopes of a rally. A scrum broke out with 11 seconds on the clockwith Stafford and Ferland trading jabs. Shots on goal GR 14 - Ham 10. For the game GR 45 - Ham 24.
Lines:
Helm - Cullen/Hartigan - Corazzini
Gelech - Oulahen - Hartigan/Tardif
#10 Walsh/Helm - Tardif - Keefe
Engelhardt - Cullen/Tardif - Ritola
Pairings:
Stafford - Galvin
Ference - Ericsson
Insana - Kindl
Starter: Howard
Backup: Berkhoel
Scratches:
Ryno
McGrath
Quincey
PP:
Hartigan - Cullen - Corazzini
Ericsson - Stafford
Helm - Oulahen - Engelhardt
Insana - Kindl
PK:
Tardif - Oulahen/Helm
Ference - Ericsson/Kindl
Corazzini- Cullen
Stafford - Galvin
Oulahen - Gelech
Observations:
Not a lot to say today that already hasn't been said.
Jakub Kindl had a decent night, and seemed to be learning to use his size to protect the puck.
Darren Helm is really coming on strong, and looks like he might become an offensive threat with his blazing speed and quick hands.
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