GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 4 at Milwaukee Admirals 3 OT
March 22, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
MILWAUKEE, WI - The Grand Rapids Griffins (38-23-11-0) reclaimed sole possession atop the American Hockey League standings, with a dramatic 4-3 win overtime win over the Milwaukee Admirals on Friday night. Rookie right wing Josh Langfeld fired the game-winner through the pads of Chris Mason 2:39 into the extra frame, as the Griffins have now earned points in each of their last 12 visits to the Bradley Center.
Playing in just his second professional contest since being signed to an amateur tryout on March 15, Tim Skarperud recorded his first professional hat trick as the Griffins built an early three-goal lead. Rookie netminder Simon Lajeunesse played brilliantly turning away 38 of 41 shots, earning him second star of the game honors.
Skarperud put the Griffins on the scoreboard just 2:23 into the opening frame when took a pass from David Hymovitz and whistled a wrist shot past Milwaukee netminder Chris Mason for his first professional tally. Former Ferris standout Rob Collins who was signed yesterday picked up his first professional point, earning the second assist on the scoring play.
The former member of the Fighting Sioux gave the Griffins a two-goal pad when fired a shot from the right wing circle that beat Mason on his stick side at 5:32. With the man advantage, Skarperud completed the hat trick as he picked up a loose puck and slipped his third of the evening just inside the right goal post at 10:01. Less than two minutes later the Admirals cut the Griffins lead to two, when Bryan Lundbohm picked up his ninth of the season, popping in a power play tally at 11:37.
In the final period of play, Milwaukee pulled to within one when Jason Goulet tipped his 17th of the season between the pads of Simon Lajeunesse at 12:54. The Admirals completed the comeback as Jay Legault banged his 15th of the year past Lajeunesse at 17:37 to knot the game at three.
In the overtime, Hugo Boisvert won a draw deep in the Admirals zone to Langfeld, and he skated in from a sharp angle and buried his 20th of the year past Mason for the Grand Rapids victory.
The Griffins return home tonight and host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.
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