Grand Rapids 2 at Utah 1
April 5, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
WEST VALLEY CITY, UT - The most unlikely of goal scorers paved the way for the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday night, as they edged the Utah Grizzlies 2-1.
David Van Drunen and Chris Kelly recorded their second tallies of the season, as Grand Rapids (40-27-11-0) avoided their first five game losing streak since April of the 1999 campaign. With the win Grand Rapids moves into a tie for first place in the West Division with the Houston Aeros, and assured themselves of a fifth seed or better in the 2002 Calder Cup playoffs. Although the two clubs are tied with 91 points, the Griffins have two more victories than the Aeros and have a game at hand over both Utah and Houston.
Van Drunen opened the scoring just 3:44 into the game when he banged a rebound past Utah netminder Chad Alban. Chris Szysky set up the lone goal of the period when he skated into the high slot and let a wrist shot go that bounced off the pads of Alban and onto the stick of Van Drunen.
After killing off a pair of Utah power play opportunities, Grand Rapids opened up a two-goal advantage when Kelly beat Alban with his first goal since February 22. Griffins veteran defenseman Travis Richards hit Kelly with a perfect pass that he tucked just inside the left pipe to give Grand Rapids a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes of play.
With the Griffins caught in a line change, Gavin Morgan fed Steve Gainey a pass that he flipped past Martin Prusek at 6:38, to cut the Griffins lead in half. Utah failed to score again, as the Griffins complete the 12 game series against the Grizzlies with a record of 4-7-1.
Prusek improves to 17-8-5 stopping 24 of 25, while Alban (17-15-1) suffers the loss turning away 29 of 31 shots. Grand Rapids failed to convert on a pair of power play opportunities, while Utah was held scoreless on four extra man situations.
Grand Rapids travels to Chicago tomorrow morning and battles the Wolves in an 8:00 p.m. tilt, Saturday evening, at Allstate Arena.
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