|
| |
Howard's Shutout Shuts Down Admirals 2-0
Pare leads the way with a goal and an assist...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
Jimmy Howard turned in a solid performance to cover his team's lethargic effort, notching his first shutout of the season in the process. The shutout, his 11 career, moved him past former Griffin Marc Lamothe and into 2nd place behind Joey MacDonald who had 16. Streaking rookie phenom Frankie Pare provided a goal and an assist, giving him 4 points in his last two games. Jakub Kindl scored the game-winner late in the second , giving him 8 points in his last 10 games, and moving him into a tie for 6th place among AHL blueliners. The admirals were without the services of starting goalie Drew MacIntyre who home for the birth of his first child.
Neither team was very sharp in the first period (or the rest of the game for that matter). The pay was choppy with neither team getting much in the way of a dangerous scoring opportunity. The only real highlight of the period was Aaron Downey dropping the gloves with Wilson in retribution for yesterdays bout with Abdelkader. Downey got the best of the Admiral's enforcer before knocking him to the ice. Shots on Goal: GR 3 - Mil 7.
The second period was more of the same until midway through the period with Milwaukee getting a couple of good chances. The first one came when a shot hit Howard, went straight up in the air, and then landed in the crease behind him. After laying there for an agonizing two seconds, it was slapped out and cleared. A few minutes later the Admirals had an apparent goal waived off because it was ruled to have been hit in with a hand. The Griffins finally generated a quality scoring chance late in the period when Jakub Kindl picked up a loose puck, streaked up the slot, and wristed a shot through Dekanich five-hole. Shots on Goal: GR 7 - Mil 12.
The third period saw another goal disallowed for Milwaukee after it was ruled it was put in with a high stick, essentially killing the Ads shot at coming back. Dekanich went to the bench 1:18 on the clock for the extra attacker, but Frankie Lemieux stole the puck and hustled it into the Milwaukee zone. He then passed up the empty net to set up Frankie Pare in front who made a little move and scored into the empty cage to put the game away. Shots on Goal: GR 6 - Mil 9. For the Game: GR 16 - Mil 28.
Lines:
Lemieux - McGrath - Pare
Ritola -Emmerton - Haydar
Oulahen - Helm - Downey
Leino - Gagnon - Tardif
Pairings:
Galvin - Kindl
Pyett - Kolosov
Jozsa - Atherton
Starter: Howard
Backup: Larsson
Scratches:
Mursak
Abdelkader - Back
Ericsson - Shoulder
Stafford - Ribs
Peterson
PP:
Leino - Helm - Pare
Haydar - Kindl
Lemieux - McGrath - Tardif
Pyett - Kolosov
PK:
Ritola - Emmerton
Atherton - Kindl
Leino - Helm
Stafford - Kindl
Oulahen - Gagnon
Observations:
Not a lot to say about this one, it was boring and both teams looked tired and sloppy. I had a great time talking to Ted Lindsay early in the evening and couldn't believe there wasn't a line in front of him, allowing me to monopolize his time.
Darren Helm played a physical, gritty game, laying out some punishing hits.
Aaron Downey looked strong on the forecheck and in the corners and was one of the few forwards with energy.
The two Frankie's, Lemieux and Pare continued their strong play and their line with McGarth was the most consistent on the night, and accounted for both goals.
Another strong game by Kolosov and Pyett, playing together with poise and confidence. Kolosov in particular has really turned the corner from suspect to prospect.
When it comes to goaltenders, the saying is you have to be lucky to be good, and good to be lucky... Jimmy Howard was all of the above. He was not tested much, but either made the save or was saved by the officials and got the job done.
|
|
