Griffins Double-Up Wolves To Claim Share of First Place
Published on February 6, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Griffins moved back into a tie with Manitoba for first place in the North Division and extended their point streak to a season-high nine games with a 6-3 win over the Chicago Wolves on Friday at Van Andel Arena.
Darren Haydar and Justin Abdelkader each had three assists to help Grand Rapids improve to 7-0-1-1 in its last nine outings, the team's longest run of points in one season since an 11-game winning streak from March 5-31, 2006.
The Griffins (31-9-6-4), who improved to 11-1-2-1 in their last 15 overall and 12-1-2-1 in their last 16 at home, will host the Lake Erie Monsters on Saturday at 7 p.m.
A pinching Chicago defenseman was rewarded for his aggressive forecheck just 1:53 into the contest. As Jason Jozsa skated the puck out from behind his net, Chad Denny swooped toward the goal and, in one motion, whacked the puck off Jozsa's stick and behind Daniel Larsson from the left side.
Later in the period, Jan Mursak tied the score with his first pro goal. Flying down the slot during an odd-man rush, he took a pass from Jamie Tardif and slung the puck past Ondrej Pavelec at the 15:16 mark.
The Griffins used a power play to take their first lead 6:14 into the second frame, when Garrett Stafford's cannon from the top of the circles sailed through a crowd and into the back of the net. The cushion lasted less than three minutes, though, as Arturs Kulda's wrister from just inside the blueline along the left boards was redirected by Jordan LaVallee at 8:37.
Ryan Oulahen put Grand Rapids back on top 3-2 with a power play goal at 12:31, tipping Abdelkader's shot from the left circle through Pavelec's pads from the doorstep. Newcomer Mike Walsh was then credited with his first goal of the season at 13:56 to make it a two-goal advantage. Logan Pyett's shot from the right circle caromed off Walsh's backside and fluttered just over the line, giving every player on Grand Rapids' current roster a goal this season.
The teams traded tallies in the third, with Aaron Gagnon's clean-up from the crease at 7:41 being answered by LaVallee's second of the night at 10:32, before Evan McGrath's shorthanded goal into an empty net sealed matters with 1:05 left.
Larsson made 25 saves to improve to 17-5-1 on the campaign, while Pavelec stopped 34-of-39 for the Wolves, who fell to 15-21-1-0 in their last 37 and 25-23-2-1 overall.
Three Stars: 1. GR Haydar (three assists); 2. CHI LaVallee (two goals); 3. GR Abdelkader (three assists)
American Hockey League Stories from February 6, 2009
- Admirals Take Down Rockford - Milwaukee Admirals
- Come-from-behind win for Lake Erie before monster road trip - Cleveland Monsters
- Falcons Fall To Devils 4-2 - Springfield Falcons
- Steve Regier's Late Goal Downs Flames 3-2 - Peoria Rivermen
- Chops on winning streak after thrilling 4-3 win on Friday over Aeros - Iowa Chops
- Aeros lose to Chops 4-3 - Houston Aeros
- Phantoms can't catch Bears - Adirondack Phantoms
- Helenius Pitches Shutout in First AHL Start as Admirals Top Sound Tigers - Norfolk Admirals
- Monarchs Hang On By A Fin - Manchester Monarchs
- Bulldogs down Sens 3-2 in OT - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Special teams flounder in Milwaukee - Rockford IceHogs
- Griffins Double-Up Wolves To Claim Share of First Place - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Rivermen sink Flames withg late goal - Abbotsford Heat
- Devils Double Up Falcons, 4-2 - Albany Devils
- Crunch Drowned by Lake Erie - Syracuse Crunch
- Sharks too little too late against Monarchs - Worcester Sharks
- Helenius starts first ever AHL game and earns a shutout with 41 saves - Bridgeport Islanders
- Rampage fall 4-3 in overtime at WBS Penguins - San Antonio Rampage
- Moose fall to Bruins, 3-2 - Manitoba Moose
- P-Bruins Defeat Moose in Shootout 3-2 - Providence Bruins
- Watch the Portland Pirates at The Stadium This Weekend - Portland Pirates
- Griffins Add Two to Staff - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Fans Invited to Celebrate Air Canada Centre's 10th Anniversary - Toronto Marlies
- "RAT-ICAL Night Out" Set For Sunday - Albany River Rats
- Aeros February 15th Game Time Changed - Houston Aeros
- Blues Recall Goaltender Chris Holt - Peoria Rivermen
- Peckham Recalled By Oilers; Potulny and Jacques Join Falcons - Springfield Falcons
- Carolina Reassigns Bobby Hughes To Florida - Albany River Rats
- "Dine with the Sharks" this Monday at Qdoba in Millbury - Worcester Sharks
- Crunch Players to Sign Autographs at AmeriCU Credit Union in Armory Square - Syracuse Crunch
- Dan LaCosta Recalled; Crunch Sign Goaltender John Murray - Syracuse Crunch
- Coyotes Recall Goertzen From San Antonio - San Antonio Rampage
- Krahn Summoned by Dallas - Chicago Wolves
- Amerks To Hold Annual Skate With The Players February 19th - Rochester Americans
- Glens Falls Seats Sold Out For Saturday - Albany River Rats
- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
- Falcons Host The Devils Tonight - Springfield Falcons
- Tyler Shelast Reassigned To Hamilton - Hamilton Bulldogs
- NHL Network to Broadcast B-Sens Game at Rochester Saturday - Binghamton Senators
- Houston Aeros visit Iowa Chops tonight - Houston Aeros
- B-Sens Sign Aaron Clarke And Mike Sgroi - Binghamton Senators
- Marlies Present Doug Gilmour Mini Jersey Night on Saturday - Toronto Marlies
- Griffins Welcome Wolves and Monsters - Grand Rapids Griffins
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.
