AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Griffins defeat Milwaukee in OT

Published on February 3, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


MILWAUKEE, WI - A clutch power play goal by Darryl Bootland with 1.4 seconds remaining in regulation helped the Grand Rapids Griffins save a point in the standings, and led to a breathtaking 5-4 come-from-behind overtime win over the Milwaukee Admirals Friday night at the Bradley Center.

The Griffins got on the board first as Matt Ellis delivered a crisp backhand pass directly in front of the net, and AHL goal-scoring leader Donald MacLean was quick to capitalize for his 33rd marker of the campaign at 6:23 - extending his personal point streak to 12 games, second-best to a 14-game run by Jiri Hudler to start the season.

Milwaukee notched a short-handed goal after Hudler surrendered a bouncing puck at the Admirals' blue line, as Scottie Upshall converted a swift no-look pass from Greg Classen to forge a deadlock at one-all with 14:03 remaining in the second period. Valtteri Filppula quickly redeemed his teammate's flub just moments later on the same power play, softly deflecting a rebound from Bryan Helmer's point shot past Pekka Rinne to take back the lead for Grand Rapids at 2-1.

The Admirals squared the score at two at 10:18 of the second, as the Griffins yielded yet another goal directly off a faceoff loss in their own zone - an ominous trend of late. Defenseman Nathan Lutz embezzled a shot past Joey MacDonald off an initial shot by Shea Weber from a draw won by Brendan Segal. Derek Meech countered for the Griffins with a pinpoint wrister from the high slot off a beautiful feed from Kent McDonell behind the net to give Grand Rapids its third lead of the night, 3-2 at 4:16 of the third.

A power play strike by Gamache tied the score yet again for Milwaukee at three-all, with 13:26 remaining. Then, as Grand Rapids failed to clear the zone, Rich Peverley gave the Admirals their first lead of the night mid-way through the third, 4-3.

Staring defeat directly in the eyes, the Griffins delivered a crushing 1-2 punch for an improbable victory - first with Bootland's marker in the closing moments of the third on a late power play, then with Helmer's tailor-made game-winner in overtime on the team's eighth power play of the night.

Grand Rapids improves to 34-12-1-3 on the season with the win, and maintains a six-point advantage over the Manitoba Moose for first place in the North Division. The Griffins return home to take on the Syracuse Crunch at 7 p.m. Saturday night at Van Andel Arena.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 3, 2006


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