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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Chaulk Up a Point

March 20, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Milwaukee Admirals 1 at GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 1 in Overtime

March 20, 2002

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The Griffins have scored just two goals in their last three games, but forward Colin Chaulk has made both of his tallies count.

After scoring in the third period on Saturday to force a 1-1 tie at Utah, Chaulk repeated the performance and the result on Wednesday night. He beat Chris Mason just over five minutes into the final frame to give Grand Rapids a point in a 1-1 deadlock with the Milwaukee Admirals at Van Andel Arena.

Although Grand Rapids has just one win and four ties (1-2-4-0) in its last seven games, the Griffins (37-23-11-0) have managed to open up a three-point lead over Utah with nine games remaining in the race for first place in the West Division. Milwaukee's point enabled it to move within four points of Rochester for the tenth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, heading into a rematch with the Griffins on Friday night at the Bradley Center.

The Admirals (27-32-10-3), who had been shut-out in their last two visits to Van Andel Arena, broke a scoreless streak of 144:59 on Griffins ice with a goal at 5:13 of the opening period. A cross-crease pass from Jason Beckett low in the right circle deflected off Grand Rapids defenseman Wade Brookbank in the slot and past an unsuspecting Martin Prusek to give Milwaukee the early lead.

Despite getting only four shots during the opening frame, the Griffins had two golden opportunities to beat Chris Mason. David Hymovitz was thwarted on a breakaway with 12 minutes left and Chris Kelly clanged a shot off the right post with eight minutes remaining in the period.

The Griffins' frustrations continued in the second period as Mason turned away 13 shots. One that eluded him was a Joel Kwiatkowski attempt from close range six minutes in, but the shot hit the right post at ice level and bounced harmlessly away.

Grand Rapids' persistence paid off at the 5:33 mark of the third period, as Chaulk telegraphed a shot from the right circle that snuck over Mason's glove into the upper right corner of the net. The Griffins totaled 18 shots from the third period on, including two pucks that landed on top of the Admirals' net during the overtime session, but had to settle for the tie.

Prusek, who is bidding to become the first AHL goalie in 63 years to finish the season with a goals against average below 2.00, stopped 24 shots to lower his mark to 1.79. He has allowed just a single goal in his last two games, each of which deflected off a teammate and into his net.

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