AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Griffins again Fall One Game Short

Published on December 12, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids, Mich. - For the second straight game, the absence of seven top skaters from their lineup resulted in a one-goal defeat for the Griffins, as the Houston Aeros escaped Van Andel Arena with a 2-1 victory on Friday.

The loss broke a three-game home winning streak for Grand Rapids (15-8-4-0), which had not lost within friendly confines since a 3-1 setback to the Aeros on Nov. 19. The Griffins' two-game skid overall comes on the heels of an eight-game unbeaten streak that gave them their five-point cushion atop the West Division.

The seventh-place Aeros, meanwhile, grabbed their third consecutive win following a torturous stretch of eight games without a victory.

All the scoring came in the first period, as Houston grabbed a 2-0 lead with goals just 1:18 apart midway through the frame. During a four-on-four situation at 9:03, Dan Cavanaugh beat Marc Lamothe from the left circle with a pinpoint shot into the upper right corner of the net. Erik Reitz then added to the advantage during a power play, taking a Rickard Wallin feed from the right boards and blasting a slapshot past Lamothe's glove from the high slot at 10:21.

The Griffins pulled within one during a power play with 2:13 left in the frame. Michel Picard unleashed a cannon from the right point that Johan Holmqvist somehow managed to turn away, but Nathan Robinson collected the rebound just outside the crease and slipped the puck by the Houston netminder.

That goal extended Robinson's point streak as a Griffin to six games (2-4-6), tying for the team's longest this season.

Lamothe made 19 saves on the night while Holmqvist answered with 26 for the visitors, who enjoyed an 8-4 advantage in power play opportunities.

As in Wednesday's 4-3 loss at Cleveland, the Griffins were forced to make do without their injured captain, defenseman Travis Richards, and six regulars who are currently with the Detroit Red Wings: Darryl Bootland, Jiri Hudler, Niklas Kronwall, Kevin Miller, Mark Mowers and Jamie Rivers.

Adding more injury to insult, Picard left the game in the third period after taking a slash on his left cheek. The resulting cut took 10 stitches to close, but Picard is expected to be in the lineup on Saturday when the Griffins visit the Milwaukee Admirals at 8 p.m.

View this game's official box score on-line at griffinshockey.com.

Check out the Grand Rapids Griffins Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from December 12, 2003


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