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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Griffins Extend Win Streak to 10, Defeat Rockford 4-1

December 12, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Grand Rapids Griffins used three third period goals and 36 saves from Jared Coreau to extend their winning streak to 10 games, defeating the Rockford IceHogs 4-1 on Saturday at BMO Harris Bank Center.

The Griffins (12-8-0-1) are one win away from matching a franchise record 11-game winning streak, which lasted from March 5-31, 2006 under Greg Ireland . Grand Rapids can equal the streak when they travel to face the Iowa Wild at Wells Fargo Arena on Sunday at 5 p.m. EST.

Grand Rapids controlled the play early on and nearly scored shorthanded two minutes into the opening period. An errant pass from Marko Dano went off the skate of Jeremy Morin and onto the stick of Xavier Ouellet near the Griffins' blue line. Colin Campbell took Ouellet's pass off the boards and went on a breakaway, but was unable to open Michael Leighton's five-hole.

Andreas Athanasiou opened the scoring for Grand Rapids at the 7:59 mark. On a 2-on-1, Anthony Mantha gained the zone and sent a cross-ice pass from the top of the left circle to Athanasiou, who fired a one-timer from the right circle past Leighton's glove side.

Jeremy Morin tied the score shorthanded for Rockford (17-6-1-2) with 4:27 remaining. After Nathan Paetsch blocked Morin's initial effort, Morin got his own rebound and fired a wrist shot from the left circle inside the far post. Jake Dowell was credited with an assist to extend his point streak to six games.

The IceHogs had the best scoring chance of the second period came on the power play, when Coreau stopped Tanner Kero's backhanded effort with his left pad. The Griffins outshot Rockford 13-10 in the middle frame.

The Griffins scored what proved to be the game winning goal 4:19 into the final frame. Robbie Russo's sharp-angle shot was stopped by Leighton's right pad, but the rebound ended up on the stick of an uncovered Tyler Bertuzzi in front, who scored his first of the season.

Eric Tangradi provided an insurance tally with 8:03 remaining. After Tangradi's initial effort from the bottom of the right circle was stopped by Leighton's right pad, Andy Miele's behind the back pass found Tangradi in front, sneaking a shot under Leighton's left pad. Mantha added an empty netter with 2:09 left.

The Griffins went 0-for-3 on the power play, while Rockford failed to score on five opportunities. Leighton stopped 32 of 35 shots in a losing effort as the IceHogs' five-game winning streak was snapped.

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