Griffins Continue Road Streak with 6-2 Win at Syracuse
Published on October 26, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Grand Rapids Griffins (3-3-1-0) continued to have success on the road with a 6-2 victory over the Syracuse Crunch (1-3-0-0) at the War Memorial at OnCenter. The Griffins are 3-0-0-0 on the road this season.
Michel Picard picked up his 250 point as a Griffin in his 218th game for the Griffins. Picard banged in a loose puck in the Syracuse goal crease, making the score 1-0 2:42 into the opening period. Ferris State alum Rob Collins got his first assist of the season on the play. Picard has 113 goals and 137 assists as a Griffin.
Tim Skarperud extended the Griffins lead to 2-0 with a power play goal at 6:10 of the first period. Derek King extended his point-scoring streak to six games as he and Picard earned assists on the play.
The Crunch would tie it up with goals by Mathieu Darche and Darrel Scoville.
Ryan Barnes would help the Griffins regain the lead with a power play tally at 18:52 of the first period from King and Bryan Adams, marking Adams' first point as a Griffin. Barnes recovered a loose puck in the Syracuse zone, marched in front of the net and beat Syracuse goaltender Pascal Leclaire inside the goal post for a 3-2 lead.
Mark Mowers gave the Griffins another two-goal lead at 10:14 of the second period when he took the puck off the end boards and buried into an open side of the net for his third goal of the season. Patrick Boileau and Travis Richards each earned assists on the play.
Picard buried his fifth goal of the season, as he took capped off an effective passing play at 15:02 of the second period. Sheldon Brookbank found Nathan Robinson with an accurate pass. Robinson then threaded a pass from the top of the right face off circle to the left goal post allowing Picard to tap the puck into the net for a 5-2 margin.
The Crunch switched from Leclaire to Karl Goehring for the third period duties in net.
Tomas Kopecky greeted him 4:27 into the final stanza with a shot through his legs for his first goal of the season and a 6-2 advantage. Adams gained his second assist of the game on the play.
Marc Lamothe earned his second victory in as many games turning away 25 of 27 shots. Leclaire stopped 20 of 25 shots in a losing effort. Goehring made 11 saves on 12 shots in his relief effort.
The Griffins return for two home games next weekend. The Chicago Wolves visit Van Andel Arena on Nov. 1. The Griffins will host the Milwaukee Admirals on Nov. 2.
American Hockey League Stories from October 26, 2002
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