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Grand Rapids Griffins

Griffins Extend Point Streak to 18 Games in Overtime Loss to Rockford

March 2, 2024 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids Griffins' Josiah Didier and Sebastian Cossa and Rockford IceHogs' Cole Guttman in action
Grand Rapids Griffins' Josiah Didier and Sebastian Cossa and Rockford IceHogs' Cole Guttman in action
(Grand Rapids Griffins, Credit: Mark Newman/Griffins)

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Grand Rapids Griffins' point streak extended to 18 games despite a chaotic third period, which led to a 5-4 overtime loss at the hands of the Rockford IceHogs at Van Andel Arena on Saturday.

The Griffins are one game away from tying their franchise record of 19 straight games, a feat that last came from Feb. 4-March, 2015. Grand Rapids exited its season-high six-game homestand with a 5-0-1-0 record. Jonatan Berggren's point streak carried on to five games (2-5--7) with his two helpers tonight, which put the Swede at 27 points (11-16--27) in his last 23 contests. Carter Mazur's two points (1-1--2) extended his point streak to three games. Matt Luff's first goal of the season came as part of a two-point night (1-1--2) for the veteran. Sebastian Cossa stretched his point streak to 10 games (7-0-3).

The Griffins' power play came through for the first goal of the game late in the opening frame when Austin Czarnik wired a pass to Mazur, who then released a one-timer past Jaxson Stauber from the bottom of the left circle at 15:17. Luff doubled the Griffins' lead after he chopped the puck down at the blue line, skated in on Stauber and found twine from the slot with 1:06 remaining in the first period.

An on-the-money pass from Berggren deflected off of Marco Kasper's stick on the doorstep and into the back of the net, which made it a 3-0 game for Grand Rapids at 5:50 in the middle frame.

Rockford got on the board during a 4-on-3 man-advantage in the second period, as Cole Guttman deflected a pass behind Cossa from the crease that hit the crossbar and bounced in with 8:03 remaining in the stanza.

At the end of the second period, the Griffins were given three straight penalties, two of which overlapped for two 5-on-3 power plays for the IceHogs. However, Grand Rapids killed off both 5-on-3 opportunities and the 5-on-4 man-advantage.

Rockford scored a trio of quick goals in the final frame to take the lead over the Griffins. The IceHogs' first tally came when Brett Seney received a pass from behind the goal line and fired the puck into the net from the slot at 11:35. Jackson Cates matched Grand Rapids' goal total after he buried a rebound while in the crease with 7:43 remaining. Guttman then potted the go-ahead goal from the doorstep with his second tally of the night at 13:03.

Grand Rapids stopped the bleeding with an equalizer, as Joel L'Esperance finished off a puck that dribbled behind Stauber from the crease for a 4-4 contest with 2:41 remaining.

With the game tied up at four, the Griffins and IceHogs entered an overtime period. Ethan Del Mastro capped off Rockford's comeback win when he ripped the overtime-winning goal into the net from the low slot at 3:46 in the extra frame, which left the Griffins with a 5-4 overtime loss to the IceHogs.

Notes

- Antti Tuomisto skated in his 100th professional game while Simon Edvinsson played in his 100th game as a Griffin.

- Zach Aston-Reese stretched his point streak (3-1--4) to four games and Tuomisto propelled his assist streak (0-4--4) to three.

- The Griffins' home point streak extended to 13 games, which was last accomplished during a 15-game run from Nov. 11, 2015-Jan. 17, 2016.

Box Score

Rockford 0 1 3 1 - 5

Grand Rapids 2 1 1 0 - 4

1st Period-1, Grand Rapids, Mazur 14 (Czarnik, Berggren), 15:17 (PP). 2, Grand Rapids, Luff 1 (Aston-Reese, Tuomisto), 18:54. Penalties-Edvinsson Gr (holding the stick), 11:29; Del Mastro Rfd (roughing), 14:25; Seney Rfd (hooking), 15:49.

2nd Period-3, Grand Rapids, Kasper 10 (Berggren, Mazur), 5:50. 4, Rockford, Guttman 6 (Seney, Pitlick), 11:57 (PP). Penalties-Kaiser Rfd (roughing), 10:06; Johansson Gr (roughing), 10:06; Gettinger Gr (cross-checking), 10:52; Rolston Rfd (high-sticking), 13:12; Kaiser Rfd (roughing), 14:00; Berggren Gr (hooking, roughing, misconduct - abuse of officials), 14:00; Luff Gr (interference), 17:49; Shine Gr (cross-checking), 18:08; Didier Gr (cross-checking), 19:57.

3rd Period-5, Rockford, Seney 17 (Guttman, Pitlick), 11:35. 6, Rockford, Cates 8 (Teply, Reichel), 12:17. 7, Rockford, Guttman 7 (Allan, Del Mastro), 13:03. 8, Grand Rapids, L'Esperance 13 (Gettinger, Luff), 17:19. Penalties-Shine Gr (cross-checking), 2:07; Reichel Rfd (hooking), 4:20; Seney Rfd (delay of game), 15:18.

OT Period-9, Rockford, Del Mastro 7 (Reichel), 3:46. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Rockford 4-9-9-4-26. Grand Rapids 12-5-6-1-24.

Power Play Opportunities-Rockford 1 / 6; Grand Rapids 1 / 5.

Goalies-Rockford, Stauber 10-7-3 (24 shots-20 saves). Grand Rapids, Cossa 13-7-6 (26 shots-21 saves).

A-8,344

Three Stars

1. RFD Del Mastro (goal, assist); 2. RFD Guttman (two goals, assist); 3. GR Mazur (goal, assist)

Record / Next Game

Grand Rapids: 27-15-6-3 (63 pts.) / Mon., March 4 at Cleveland 7 p.m.

Rockford: 24-21-5-2 (55 pts.) / Sat., March 9 at Chicago 7 p.m. CST

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Images from this story

Grand Rapids Griffins' Josiah Didier and Sebastian Cossa and Rockford IceHogs' Cole Guttman in action
Grand Rapids Griffins' Josiah Didier and Sebastian Cossa and Rockford IceHogs' Cole Guttman in action
(Mark Newman/Griffins)		   

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