Charlotte's Web Ensnares Griffins

March 31, 2017 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - A Grand Rapids Griffins squad missing six of its top players to either injuries or call-ups was unable to muster much offense on Friday, as the Central Division leaders fell 3-1 to the Charlotte Checkers at Van Andel Arena.

Daniel Altshuller made 30 saves and came within 54 seconds of a shutout, and the Checkers took full advantage of their depleted opponent to improve to 9-1-1-0 in their last 11 games, putting a tighter but still tenuous grip on the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central.

The Griffins played without five of their top nine scorers as well as their most productive defenseman. Matt Lorito (20-33 - 53), Eric Tangradi (15-26 - 41) and Tyler Bertuzzi (11-24 - 35) all sat out due to injuries, while leading scorer Ben Street (25-29-54), Tomas Nosek (15-25 - 40) and blueliner Robbie Russo (7-24 - 31) remain on recall to the Detroit Red Wings. The sextet represented 40 percent of the team's goal output and 41 percent of its point total entering play tonight.

Grand Rapids (43-20-1-4), whose lead over second-place Chicago has shrunk to one point with the Griffins still holding a game in hand, will look to snap a two-game skid on Saturday when it starts a three-game road trip with an 8 p.m. EDT faceoff in Rockford against the IceHogs.

The Checkers (35-28-5-0) jumped the Griffins 10:10 into the contest, capitalizing on an odd-man rush when Valentin Zykov snapped a shot past Jared Coreau's glove from the right circle. That stood up as the only goal of a first period in which Charlotte enjoyed a commanding 14-7 shot advantage.

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