Griffins and Admirals Tie 3-3
November 2, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
Grand Rapids, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Griffins stayed unbeaten in their last four outings (3-0-1-0) and the Milwaukee Admirals remained undefeated on the season (4-0-4-0) after skating to a 3-3 deadlock on Saturday at Van Andel Arena.
Greg Classen, re-assigned to the Admirals on Friday by the Nashville Predators, notched a hat trick and rallied Milwaukee from a 3-1 deficit in the third period. His performance overshadowed an outstanding evening by the Griffins' Derek King, who scored a pair of goals just 16 seconds apart during the second period.
The Griffins (4-3-2-0), who increased their lead atop the Central Division standings to two points over Cincinnati, will put their perfect 3-0 road record to the test when they visit league-leading Houston next Thursday, Nov. 7.
The Admirals logged the only goal of the opening period, when Classen lifted a rebound shot over a fallen Marc Lamothe from the right of the goal mouth during a power play at 15:42.
King's two quick goals midway through the second frame turned the one-goal deficit into a Grand Rapids lead. After scoring from the slot off a pass from Stacy Roest at 8:46, he streaked down the right side off the ensuing faceoff and took a shot from the circle that trickled behind Milwaukee's Chris Madden at 9:02.
The Griffins increased their lead with a power play goal at 17:52 by former Admiral Mark Mowers. Michel Picard took a shot from the right of the net that sailed high and wide, but Mowers, standing to the left of the goal, alertly grabbed the puck out of the air, dropped it on his stick and pounded it inside the left post.
Once the third period commenced, Classen needed less than three minutes to pull the Admirals even. He scored on a floater from the right circle at the 44-second mark, then tapped another shot into the cage from the left side at 2:46. Milwaukee was unable to capitalize on any of its 14 other chances during the third period and overtime, while limiting Grand Rapids to just seven shots over that span.
Lamothe made 30 saves to stand 3-0-1-0 in his last four appearances, while Madden recorded 16 stops in his first action of the season.
As part of their "Turn Back the Clock" promotion, the Griffins wore special tie-dyed jerseys that raised $9,420 for Big Brothers Big Sisters during a post-game auction. Picard's sweater drew a high bid of $800.
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