AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Grand Rapids Blanked by Hamilton

Published on March 4, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


HAMILTON, Ontario - One fortunate bounce was all the Hamilton Bulldogs needed to end the Grand Rapids Griffins' season-best five-game winning streak and skate away with a 1-0 victory at Copps Coliseum on Sunday evening.

The Griffins, who fell to 25-22-5-4 on the season, will continue a season-high five-game road trip with four straight games in the state of Texas. They'll visit the Texas Stars on Wednesday at 8:30 EST before taking on the Houston Aeros next Saturday and Sunday.

The victory brings Hamilton back to .500 (26-26-1-5) and within one point of the fourth-place Griffins in the North Division standings.

Each club's goaltender was perfect through the first 40 minutes of play. Ty Conklin was the busier of the two netminders, steering aside 26 in the first two periods and 33 for the game. Hamilton's Nathan Lawson didn't see as much action, but he earned his fifth shutout of the season with 25 stops.

The evening's only goal came off the stick of Eric Lampe, who notched his second goal on the season 10:43 into the third period. Hamilton defenseman Joe Stejskal sent a shot towards the net that went wide, and Lampe quickly swept the rebound underneath an unsuspecting Conklin from a sharp angle. It was the first goal Hamilton scored on home ice against Grand Rapids all season, having been shut out 3-0 on Oct. 18 and 8-0 on Nov. 11.

Grand Rapids had several chances to even the score in the third period, none better than a Gustav Nyquist shot from the high circle that rang off the post and sat in Lawson's crease. As the Griffins jammed away at the loose puck, Hamilton's Mark Mitera pushed the net off its moorings to draw a whistle. He also earned a delay of game penalty, but the Griffins were unable to capitalize on the power play and Hamilton held on for the victory.

Notes: The Griffins were without right wing Chris Conner, who was recalled by the parent Detroit Red Wings following last night's 4-3 shootout win over the Oklahoma City Barons. The Red Wings assigned Conner back to the Griffins following their 2-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks earlier today.

Three Stars: 1. HAM Lawson (W, 25 saves); 2. HAM Lampe (game-winning goal); 3. GR Conklin (33 saves)

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American Hockey League Stories from March 4, 2012


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