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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Aeros Score Late to Beat Griffins

October 24, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids, Mich. - Three Houston goals within a 3:16 span of the third period broke open a tight game and powered the visiting Aeros to a 4-2 victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins on Thursday at Van Andel Arena.

The Aeros' victory allows them to remain the AHL's only perfect team at 7-0, just four wins shy of the league record for consecutive wins to start a season (11 by Rochester in 1984-85). The Griffins fell to 1-3-1-0 overall and stayed winless at home (0-3-1-0), heading into games at Rochester (Fri.) and Syracuse (Sat.) this weekend.

With the score tied at 1-1 after 40 minutes, Kyle Wanvig capitalized on a turnover during a Houston power play, jamming the puck past Grand Rapids goalie Joey MacDonald to break the tie at the 4:49 mark of the final period.

Hnat Domenichelli all but salted the game away with a pair of quick tallies, scoring on a shorthanded breakaway at 7:03 and adding an even-strength marker at 8:05 to give Houston a commanding 4-1 lead.

Stacy Roest's first goal as a Griffin, on the power play with 4:47 left, cut the final margin to two goals.

Following a scoreless opening period, Houston struck just 1:07 into the second frame. Aeros goalie Dieter Kochan denied a terrific Griffins scoring chance, and Mark Cullen beat MacDonald from the high slot during an ensuing odd-man rush the other way.

Grand Rapids earned the equalizer in the waning minutes of the middle period, thanks to great efforts by Michel Picard and Derek King. Picard circled behind the Houston net and backhanded a pass from the left of the cage into the slot to King, who banged the puck past Kochan on his second whack at 17:43.

MacDonald stopped 22-of-26 in dropping to 1-2 on the season, while Kochan improved to 4-0 by turning aside 31-of-33 shots.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 24, 2002


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