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Griffins Ride Tangradi's Hat Trick, Maul Monsters 4-1
Winning streak reaches eight games...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
December 5th, 2015
The Grand Rapids Griffins knocked off the 2nd place Lake Erie Monsters at Van Andel arena, Saturday night, running their season high winning streak to eight games. The Griffins scored early and often including three goals from winger Eric Tangradi (8,9,10) and a highlight reel goal from Andreas Athanasiou (6). They held the lead for the entire game despite being outshot badly including a 22 shot deficit over the final two periods. Thomas McCollum made 41 saves for his 4th win of the campaign.
A lot of hitting early in the 1st period as the Griffins came out with a chip on their shoulders. Aubry laid out Sifers in the corner and then later on the same shift laid him out again in front of the benches. Athanasiou used his speed to step around a defender and create a 2-on-0 with Mantha. They went back and forth and sucked out Korpisalo, before Athanasiou buried it into the open side of the net, stick-side to open the scoring. Zengerle had a nice steal and sprung Miele for a great scoring chance. Shots on goal: GR 6 - LE 9.
Tangradi made it 2-0 early in the second, cruising across the slot, the towering forward batted a shot in over Korpisalo. Heads up play by Callahan to pick off an errant puck and start the transition as Athanasiou had a break on the Monsters' net. Grand Rapids only mustered 4 shots on goal in the period, scoring once. Shots on goal: GR 4 - LE 17.
Grand Rapids couldn't clear and Kukan fired a long shot from the point that went in over McCollum to cut the lead in half. McCollum made a diving save to cover a loose puck in front and preserve the Griffins lead. The Griffins only had 1 shot on goal in the first 11 minutes of the period. Campbell got behind the defense for a breakaway and a glorious scoring chance. The Griffins had three tries at the net before it was cleared. Tangradi got off easy as his cross check from behind drove an opponent head first into the boards and all he got was two minutes. The penalty killers cleared the puck just as Tangradi exited the box and he went in alone on Korpisalo from center ice . He rifled a shot through the Lake Erie Netminder five hole for his second of the game. Tangradi completed the hat trick into the empty net with just 16 seconds remaining in the game to seal a 4-1 win. Shots on goal: GR 7 - LE 16.
Lines:
Callahan - Miele - Zengerle
Tangradi - Athanasiou - Mantha
Cleary - Nosek - Bertuzzi
Hoggan - Aubry - Campbell
Pairings:
Paetsch - Jensen
Ouellet - Russo
Lashoff - Sproul
Starter: McCollum
Backup: Coreau
Scratches:
#27 Frk
#37 Nastasiuk-Concussion
#42 Nedomlel
#23 Grant - Neck
#44 Rechlicz
PP:
Callahan - Athanasiou - Frk
Ouellet - Sproul
Tangradi - Miele - Zengerle
Paetsch - Russo
PK:
Athanasiou - Campbell
Paetsch - Jensen
Nosek - Aubry
Ouellet - Lashoff
Observations:
Lots of statistical anomalies in this game, a convincing Griffins win. The first is that despite the huge difference in shots on goal, the Griffins looked to be in control for large parts of the game. It would be interesting to see the number of shot attempts that were blocked or missed the net. Further, while McCollum made 41 saves, very few of them were legitimate dangerous scoring chances. The Griffins were credited with 4 goals on 17 shots, or right around 25% shooting percentage against a pretty good club with a decent looking young netminder in Korpisalo (2.02 GAA and .934 Sv % in 10 games coming in).
The official for the game put his whistle away and the Griffins only enjoyed one man-advantage situation but were shorthanded three times.
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