Grand Rapids 0, Manitoba 5
March 15, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
WINNIPEG, MB - Playing without their injured defensive trio of Travis Richards, John Gruden and Jason Doig the Grand Rapids Griffins were blanked 5-0 by the Manitoba Moose on Friday night. The Moose jumped out to an early two-goal lead and never looked back, as they prevented the Griffins from becoming the first team in the American Hockey League to clinch a playoff spot. Grand Rapids (37-23-9-0) suffers just their second loss to the Moose this season, and remains two points ahead of the second place Utah Grizzlies for first place in the West Division.
Pat Kavanagh opened the scoring for the Moose when he took a pass from Denis Martynyuk and tucked the puck under the left arm of Griffins netminder Simon Lajeunesse at 4:57. Manitoba tallied their second goal of the opening period when Brandon Reid slipped his 14th of the season between the pads of Lajeunesse at 13:43.
The Moose blew the game open in the second period as they received tallies from Brian Champman, Ryan Ready and Zenith Komarniski. Grand Rapids failed to light the lamp in the middle frame, but scraps between Alexandre Giroux and Josh Holden and Wade Brookbank and Kavanagh highlighted the final four minutes of action. A total of 96 penalty minutes were awarded between the two clubs in the period, as the Moose took a 5-0 advantage into the final 20 minutes of play.
Neither club found the back of the net in the third, as Alfie Michaud picked up his second shutout of the year, stopping all 30 shots that he faced. Michaud improves to 10-6-0, while Lajeunesse suffers the loss and falls to 10-6-5 on the year. Grand Rapids failed to convert on four power play opportunities, while Manitoba was held scoreless on three chances. With the loss, the Griffins set a franchise record as they have now been blanked on eight occasions this season.
The Griffins travel to Utah tomorrow morning and face-off against the Grizzlies in a first place battle on Saturday night at 9:00 p.m.
American Hockey League Stories from March 15, 2002
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