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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Griffins Declaw Grizzlies, 6-2

December 30, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Griffins rode their highest scoring period in almost two years to a decisive 6-2 victory over the Utah Grizzlies on Monday night at Van Andel Arena.

Tim Skarperud scored twice and Dave Van Drunen contributed a goal and two assists, helping the Griffins earn their 20th win of the season (20-8-4-2) and increase their lead atop the Central Division to eight points over Rochester.

The Griffins and Grizzlies will close out 2002 with a Tuesday rematch at Van Andel Arena. Game time is 7:00 p.m.

Following an uneventful first period, the floodgates opened in the second as the teams combined for seven goals, five of them off Griffins' sticks.

Rob Collins broke the ice at 5:58 by scoring from an odd angle behind the goal line, banking a shot off a Utah defender and past Jason Bacashihua. Mark Mowers then took a pass from a hustling Nathan Robinson in the high slot and blasted a one-timer home at 7:50, and Van Drunen scored from the point off a faceoff just 15 seconds later to make it 3-0.

Utah's Barrett Heisten momentarily stopped the bleeding at 8:53 by lifting the puck over Marc Lamothe from the right of the goal. However, less than five minutes later, Skarperud took Mowers' pass from the left corner and beat Bacashihua five-hole at 13:46, notching his first goal since Nov. 15.

The Grizzlies again cut the lead to two goals at 4-2 on Steve Gainey's shorthanded tally at the 14:58 mark, but Hugo Boisvert tipped a Van Drunen shot past the Utah netminder at 16:36 to reassert the three-goal advantage at the second break.

The five Griffins goals, coming in a span of just 10:38, were their most in a single frame since they netted five in the second period of an 8-0 win at Cleveland on April 1, 2001. The Griffins last accomplished the feat at home on March 9, 2001, during the third period of a 9-3 rout of Chicago.

Skarperud finished the drubbing by scoring on his backhand off a rebound at 6:49 of the third period.

Each team had plenty of power play chances, but the Griffins went 0-for-5 with the advantage while holding Utah scoreless in seven tries. Lamothe's 20 saves helped him reclaim sole possession of the AHL's wins lead at 14 (14-7-4), while Bacashihua fell to 9-7-0 after turning away 28 shots.

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