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Grand Rapids Griffins

Griffins Score Three in 1:08 Span, Rout Chicago 5-0

February 23, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Grand Rapids Griffins scored three goals in a 1:08 first-period span while Jared Coreau stopped all 28 shots in a 5-0 rout of the Chicago Wolves on Tuesday before a crowd of 14,183 at Allstate Arena.

Martin Frk added a pair of insurance tallies as the Griffins improved to 6-3-0-0 (.667) for the month of February. The result also saw Grand Rapids rise to third in the Central Division and fifth in the Western Conference.

Anthony Mantha started the scoring for the Griffins (30-20-1-1) 7:35 into the opening period. Eric Tangradi's backhanded pass in the neutral zone pinballed off Jared Nightingale's skate and Jeremie Blain's stick before reaching Mantha for a breakaway. Mantha's initial effort was saved by Jordan Binnington, but Mantha collected his own rebound and put the puck around the Chicago netminder's right pad and in for his fifth goal in four games.

Tyler Bertuzzi added to the Griffins' lead 49 seconds later. Tomas Nosek gained the zone on the left wing and made his way down to the goal line for a centering pass that was redirected in front by Bertuzzi through the five hole.

Another 19 seconds passed before Mitch Callahan made it a three-goal cushion. Joel Chouinard's pass from the high slot found Callahan at the left post, lifting the puck over a sprawling Billington and in.

Frk gave the Griffins a commanding 4-0 lead at the 7:02 mark of the middle frame. Robbie Russo's cross-ice pass from the right half-wall found Frk at the bottom of the left circle. In one motion, Frk kicked the puck from his left skate onto his stick. Despite fanning on his shot, the fluttering puck went off Billington's glove and in.

Chicago's (24-24-3-2) best opportunity to get on the scoresheet came shorthanded less than five minutes into the final frame. After Frk lost control of the puck at the point, Zach O'Brien ended up on a breakaway from his own half of center ice. However, Coreau was able to keep the five-hole closed en route to his fourth shutout of the season.

Frk's second of the night on the power play with 4:18 remaining. Following a Cody Beach match penalty, Mantha's pass from below the right circle found Frk racing in at the left circle for a one-timer, scoring on the blocker side for his team-leading 21st of the campaign.

Grand Rapids finished 1-for-5 on the power play, while Chicago failed to score on two opportunities. Binnington stopped 26 of 31 shots in a losing effort.

The Griffins return to Van Andel Arena for a three-in-three homestand starting on Friday against the Iowa Wild at 7 p.m.

Three Stars: 1. GR Frk (two goals); 2. GR Mantha (goal, assist); 3. GR Russo (two assists)

Notes: Russo leads the AHL in plus/minus with a +32 rating...Louis-Marc Aubry played in his 300th professional game on Tuesday...The Griffins are 28-3-1-0 when scoring three or more goals and 21-3-0-0 when allowing two or fewer goals.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2016


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