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Marlies Outlast Griffins 3-2
Griffins Captain Scores a Pair...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com

Toronto watched a 2-0 lead disappear before scoring the game-winner late in the third to take down Grand Rapids 3-2. The Griffins did not look like the same team that took two games off the Rochester Americans last weekend. While they were a long way from the few weeks prior, they seemed to lack the passion and defensive dominance they displayed during their recent winning streak. Matt Ellis scored both goals for Grand Rapids in the loss.

Pretty even first until halfway through the period when the Marlies leapt out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Devereaux and Mitchell. Devereaux followed up the play and buried the rebound of a shot by Cloutier from the slot for a shorthanded goal. A few seconds later Mitchell's rocket from the point found the corner of the net to quiet a stunned home crowd. Two and a half minutes later, Ellis scored his eighth of the season on the powerplay when he redirected a point shot from Syvret past Pogge low stick side. Langfeld had a couple of dangerous chances to tie the game, but Pogge kept the door closed. Shots on Goal GR 12 - Tor 11.

The second was more of the same, with neither team gaining an advantage. The only excitement happened when Howard was upended in the crease, and it looked like their might be a scrum. Grand Rapids did not capitalize on the resulting powerplay. Shots on goal GR 9 - Tor 9.

Bodies were flying in the third as both teams frustrations began to show. Kyle Quincey went down in the Toronto zone and bowled over a couple of Marlies. Brooks laid a big open ice hit knocking Westrum ass over applecart. Quincey smoked Earl and knocked him down, drawing a roughing penalty. Ellis tied the game with 2:12 left when he followed up a Hussey shot and whacked at it until it went in for his 9th of the season to tie the game at two. The joy was shortlived, as 41 seconds later a defensive breakdown left Westrum open with Howard down and out. Westrum banked in a bad angle shot into the empty net for the eventual game winner. Toronto's Nash to the box with 53 seconds left sets up a Griffins powerplay. Bootland in front taking abuse poking at the goalies glove after the whistle draws a cross check and drops the gloves. In the ensuing scrum two Marlies take penalties with Booter leaving GR up by two men. Jimmy to the bench for the extra skater, making a 6-on-3 for 25 seconds. It was to no avail as they couldn't get the equalizer. Shots on goal GR 10 - Tor 10.

Lines:
Langfeld - Miller - Bootland
Barney - Himelfarb - Brooks
Hussey - Ellis - Campbell
Oulahen - McGrath - Barney

Pairings:
Smith - Quincey
Galvin - Ericsson
Syvret - Insana

Starter: Howard
Backup: Liv

PP:
Langfeld - Himelfarb - Campbell/Barney
Syvret - Quincey

Miller - Ellis - Bootland
Hussey - Ericsson

PK:
Langfeld - Ellis
Galvin - Smith

Hussey - Bootland
Syvret - Quincey

Scratches:
Norton - Back
Radunske
Keller

Observations:
Not many tonight other than I was very impressed with three players in particular. Langfeld, Ellis and Hussey were all on and buzzing tonight. I lost count to the number of scoring chances that Langfeld had but he was credited with 7 shots on goal.

Despite giving up three goals, Howard played well, at least two of the three there wasn't much he could have done on.



Click here for the Official Scoresheet.