Griffins Blanked by Aeros, 5-0
Published on November 19, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Anton Khudobin stopped all 28 Grand Rapids Griffins shots on Friday to claim his first shutout of the season and lead the Houston Aeros to a 5-0 victory at Van Andel Arena.
The Griffins (8-6-0-3), who tonight began a stretch in which they'll play 16 of 22 games on home ice, will try to avenge Wednesday's 3-0 loss at Lake Erie when they host the Monsters on Saturday at 7 p.m.
The Aeros (9-6-1-2) struck first for the lone goal of the opening period, as Jon DiSalvatore took a pass to the left of the net and sped unopposed through the top of the crease before putting the puck past Thomas McCollum at the 6:40 mark.
Houston added to its lead during a power play 3:52 into the second period, when Jarod Palmer blasted home a shot from above the left circle. Brendan Smith nearly put the Griffins on the board two minutes later on a shorthanded breakaway, but Khudobin got a piece of a puck that trickled harmlessly past his left post.
The Griffins subsequently lost two of their best players for the night due to separate game misconduct penalties. At 6:28, Jan Mursak was involved in a fight with Cody Almond and did not have his jersey properly tied down, while Derek Meech got the gate at 15:18 for a check from behind on Jared Spurgeon. In all, the Griffins were whistled off for 60 minutes in penalties on the night, their most since accumulating 67 just over four years ago, on Nov. 14, 2006 versus Milwaukee.
Grand Rapids killed off the majority of the Aeros' ensuing five-minute power play before the visitors extended their advantage to 3-0 with 50 ticks left in the period, as Maxim Noreau connected on a cannon from the point.
Another Noreau power play goal, Houston's third of the night, came during a 5-on-3 at 10:41 of the third period, before Kris Fredheim tallied at 18:49 for the final margin.
The Griffins, who scored at least four goals in seven consecutive games from Oct. 23-Nov. 7, have since encountered an unprecedented offensive drought. Grand Rapids has suffered consecutive shutouts at Van Andel Arena for the first time in its 15 seasons (including a 1-0 shootout loss to Milwaukee on Nov. 10) and back-to-back shutouts overall for just the second time ever (Jan. 14-16, 1998). With scoreless streaks that now extend to 125:24 at home and 132:49 overall, the Griffins have been blanked three times and have totaled only three goals over their last five games, each of which represents a franchise first.
McCollum saw his personal record fall to 5-5-2 following his 25-save effort.
American Hockey League Stories from November 19, 2010
- Rampage Win Sixth Straight With 4-3 Shootout Victory Over Milwaukee - San Antonio Rampage
- Stoa And Carman Lead Monsters To Another North Division Win - Cleveland Monsters
- Aeros cage Griffins - Houston Aeros
- Griffins Blanked by Aeros, 5-0 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Jake Allen Earns Third Shutout in 2-0 Win - Peoria Rivermen
- Wolf Pack wins over Falcons - Connecticut Whale
- B-Sens Pick Up Sweet Win Against Hershey - Binghamton Senators
- Amerks Shutdown By Bulldogs; Drop Third Straight - Rochester Americans
- Hogs Can't Hold Toivonen's 38 Saves Up In Manitoba - Rockford IceHogs
- Falcons Fall To Pack 5-2 - Springfield Falcons
- Bulldogs Ice Americans 5-3 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Monarchs Featured On Shark Weak - Manchester Monarchs
- Moose Charge Late For 3-1 Win Over IceHogs - Manitoba Moose
- Crunch Comeback Falls Short in 4-3 Shootout Loss to Albany - Syracuse Crunch
- Devils End Skid, Win At Syracuse In Shootout - Albany Devils
- Heat Fall 2-0 in Peoria - Abbotsford Heat
- Phantoms Comeback Earns Standings Point - Adirondack Phantoms
- Bears fall in Binghamton 4-2 - Hershey Bears
- Boychuk's three point performance leads Charlotte to fourth straight win - Charlotte Checkers
- P-Bruins Battle Back, Fall Short in OT - Providence Bruins
- Monarchs Rule Worcester 3-1 - Worcester Sharks
- Kevin Poulin makes 43 saves to earn fourth win of the season - Bridgeport Islanders
- Stars Edge Barons 2-1 in a Shootout - Texas Stars
- Admirals Top Division-Leading Penguins 4-1 to Close out Road Trip - Norfolk Admirals
- Aeros Sign Goalie Ouzas to PTO - Houston Aeros
- Admirals, Brewers Continue Two-Man Advantage - Milwaukee Admirals
- Texas Stars Grow Mustaches For Movember - Texas Stars
- Teddy Bear Toss and a Packed Sunday Highlight Griffins' Holiday Weekend - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Phantoms Add Three from Greenville - Adirondack Phantoms
- McKenna Recalled to New Jersey Under Emergency Conditions - Albany Devils
- Canucks Recall Perrault; Re-Assign Bliznak to Moose - Manitoba Moose
- B-Sens Release Goaltender Zane Kalemba - Binghamton Senators
- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
- Crunch Announce Details of Dick's Sporting Goods 'Save 10' Program - Syracuse Crunch
- Lightning Reassign James Wright to Admirals - Norfolk Admirals
- Nathan Oystrick Assigned to Peoria - Peoria Rivermen
- Amerks Take on Bulldogs Tonight at Blue Cross Arena - Rochester Americans
- Gameday Preview Texas at Oklahoma City - Texas Stars
- Falcons Host Pack Tonight - Springfield Falcons
- Islanders Recall Joensuu, Sound Tigers Sign Three to PTO's - Bridgeport Islanders
- Busy Home Schedule for Griffins Starts Tonight - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Aeros Game Day: at Grand Rapids - Houston Aeros
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
