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IceHogs Tame Griffins Again 2-1
Rockford one better for second time in a week...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
It was Deja vu for the Grand Rapids Griffins tonight, finding themselves losing a one goal game to the Rockford IceHogs. Jamie Tardif scored the lone goal for Grand Rapids tying the game at one apiece late in the first period. The Griffins appeared to tie the game in the third, but it was ruled no-goal as the official intended to blow the play dead. That was not the only controversial call on the night, but in the end the home team could not solve IceHogs netminder Alec Richards. Thomas McCollum suffered his fifth loss of the season, stopping 16 shots.
Rockford got on the board first, midway through the first when former-Griffin Mark Cullen stroked a shot from the circle into the empty side of the net, stick-side, high. Grand Rapids answered back a few minutes later. Newbury sent a shot from the circle at Richards and Tardif in front converted the rebound for his seventh of the season. Shots on Goal: GR 9 - Rock 7.
A defensive breakdown in front early in the period led to Brophy giving the IceHogs the lead again. A few minutes later, McGrath came out of the box and had a great scoring chance with Williams along. The GR powerplay misfired on three powerplays in the period. Shots on Goal: GR 10 - Rock 8.
The Griffins came out hard in the third period generating several good scoring chances and keeping pressure on the Rockford net. Bickell smoked Tardif into the boardsin the corner, and tardif was down for a long time. He eventually was helped off the ice, where he received treatment on the bench before returning to the game. Ehrhardt dropped the gloves with Bois, and the rookie blueliner had his butt handed to him. Bois gave him the beat down, ripping off his helmet and then pummeling him to the ice. The Griffins scored on a goal mouth scramble at the ten minute mark, but the goal was called back because the official called the play dead. Grand Rapids dominated the period outshooting them 9-1 at the 12 minute mark. Tardif had a super shorthanded breakaway but was interfered with and drew a penalty. McCollum was summoned to the bench with a minute left for the extra attacker. The Griffins had a hard time gaining possession in the Rockford zone, but ended up with a couple of quality chances before time ran out. Shots on Goal: GR 15 - Rock 3. For the Game: GR 34 - Rock 18.
Lines:
Tatar - Rismiller - Mursak
Ritola - Newbury - Tardif
Emmerton - McGrath - #19 Williams
Crosty - Pare - Vigilante
3rd Period:
Tatar - Pare - Emmerton
Ritola - Newbury - Mursak
Pairings:
Kolosov - Pyett
Janik - Piche
Ehrhardt - Delmore
Starter: McCollum
Backup: Larsson
Scratches:
Axelsson
Walsh
PP:
Ritola - Newbury - Tardif
Williams - Delmore
Tatar - Rissmiller - Mursak
Janik - Pyett
Emmerton - McGrath - Pare
PK:
Rissmiller - Mursak
Kolosov - Pyett/Delmore/Janik
Tardif - Newbury
Ehrhardt - Delmore
Vigilante - Pare
Three Stars:
3 Greentree - Rockford
2 Tardif - GR
1 Richards - Rockford
Observations:
Another strong game by Grand Rapids and Rockford. If the Griffins had a little luck or a slower whistle it may have ended differently.
The defense as a whole played a very strong game. Logan Pyett and Travis Ehrhardt both looked very strong, and Piche was not bad either.
Pyett had a super night, making good decisions with the puck and bearing down defensively. he has really come into his own as of late.
Piche moved the puck well, but had a couple of his long rinkwide stretch passes picked off.
Jeremy Williams switched to Abdelkader's old #19, perhaps looking for a little luck with the change.
Tardif played another gritty game and took a lot of punishment. he was rewarded with a goal, and almost had another.
Same comment about McCollum as last week. It is tough to fault him for only giving up two goals, but he just doesn't look as sharp as he did earlier in the season. He seems to have a lack of focus, slow to react to the play around him.
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