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Grand Rapids Griffins

Offensive woes continue in 2-1 loss to Ducks

March 24, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids, Mich. - Ilya Bryzgalov stymied a struggling Grand Rapids offense with 25 saves on Wednesday to lead the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks to a 2-1 win over the Griffins at Van Andel Arena.

Grand Rapids, which has now lost four out of five home games for the first time since the 1998-99 season, has totaled just eight goals in its last seven games overall, scoring more than one goal just once during that span.

The Griffins (41-22-8-0), who sustained their seventh loss in their last 11 games, will try to rebound on the road with a pair this Friday and Saturday against the Utah Grizzlies at The E Center. Fortunately for the Griffins, Milwaukee fell at home by an identical score to Toronto tonight, keeping Grand Rapids four points behind the Admirals in the race for the West Division and AHL regular season crowns.

The game remained scoreless until the 14:36 mark of the second period, when Keith Aucoin solved Joey MacDonald during a Cincinnati power play, lifting the puck over the netminder from just outside the crease.

After breaking the ice with that goal, Cincinnati's first at Van Andel Arena in a span of 216:59 that stretched back to Nov. 5, it took the Ducks just another 2:34 to net their second. Casey Hankinson collected the puck behind the Griffins' net, skated out to the left of MacDonald and snapped a shot inside the far post at 17:10.

The Griffins avoided what would have been their second straight home shutout with 4:13 remaining in the game. During a power play, Paul Ballantyne unleashed a shot that Bryzgalov denied, but Jiri Hudler was on the doorstep and directed the rebound into a half-empty cage.

MacDonald finished with 22 saves, suffering his first career loss to his former team against seven wins.

For the ninth time in 10 meetings between Grand Rapids and Cincinnati (26-34-9-1) this season, the losing team managed one goal or was shut out. Despite the defeat, the Griffins claimed the season series with a 6-4-0-0 mark.

View this game's official box score on-line at griffinshockey.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 24, 2004


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