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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

2-1 win gives Griffins largest lead of season

February 21, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Griffins made it a weekend sweep of their closest competition in the Western Conference and extended their franchise-record home unbeaten streak to 14 games (11-0-3-0) on Saturday with a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Admirals, in front of a crowd of 9,027 at Van Andel Arena.

Following their 2-1 overtime win against Hamilton last night, the Griffins came back with an identical effort to extend their lead over Milwaukee in the West Division race to a season-high 11 points. Joey MacDonald made 36 saves to backstop Grand Rapids to its fifth win in six games since Marc Lamothe's recall to Detroit on Feb. 12.

The Griffins (35-15-8-0), who still pace the AHL in wins, points (78) and winning percentage (0.672), will continue their five-game home stand on Thursday versus the Utah Grizzlies. That contest starts a stretch of three home games in four days that will conclude the busiest two-month home schedule - 17 games - in the Griffins' eight seasons.

All the scoring took place in the opening period, with Grand Rapids putting Milwaukee in a 2-0 hole. At the 11:42 mark, Jiri Hudler won a draw in the right circle back to Aaron Schneekloth, who launched a blast at Wade Flaherty from the right point. The Admirals' netminder turned the shot away, one of 27 saves he'd make on the night, but Ryan Barnes fought through bodies in the slot to slam the rebound home.

Grand Rapids took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play to increase its margin less than four minutes later. After receiving a pass from Derek King along the right goal line, Jeff Nelson sent a pass across the slot to Kevin Miller, who beat Flaherty from the left circle at 15:02.

The Admirals (29-16-6-3) cut their deficit back to one before the period expired. Set up in the Griffins' zone during a power play, former Michigan State blueliner Andrew Hutchinson unleashed a rocket from the left point that found its way past MacDonald into the upper right corner of the cage at 17:37.

The Griffins weathered the Admirals' storm during the second period to keep it a one-goal game, withstanding 51 seconds of a 5-on-3 Milwaukee advantage and watching MacDonald deny each of the visitors' 15 attempts overall. Grand Rapids' defense, which has allowed only 21 goals in the last 16 contests, then thwarted all 11 Admirals shots in the third to wrap up perhaps the team's biggest win of the season.

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

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American Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2004


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