Griffins Fall to Amerks in a Shootout, 3-2
Published on January 30, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Behind a brilliant performance by all-star netminder Mike Brodeur, the Rochester Americans rallied from two-goal deficit to steal a 3-2 shootout decision from the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday at Van Andel Arena.
While his team occupies the AHL's cellar, Brodeur showed why he is the league's second-ranked goalie, making 35 saves and stopping all five Griffins shootout attempts to help Rochester snap both its three-game winless skid and Grand Rapids' three-game winning streak.
The Griffins (28-9-6-4) and Amerks (16-26-0-4) will have at it again on Saturday at 7 p.m. to close out Grand Rapids' five-game homestand.
Following a scoreless opening frame in which they fired 19 shots, the Griffins solved Brodeur with a pair of quick second-period goals. Sergei Kolosov connected on a slap shot from the right circle through a sea of humanity for his first AHL goal at 6:19, and Ryan Oulahen's cannon from the high slot found the back of the net during a power play 1:34 later.
The Americans broke through Jimmy Howard at the 10:48 mark to make it a 2-1 game, as Michael Duco scored from the left side with an assist from former Griffin Randall Gelech to snap Howard's shutout streak at 102:56. Rochester netted the equalizer with 8:23 left in the third period, when David Brine flipped a sharp-angle shot from the right of the crease that floated over Howard and settled inside the far post.
Soon after, the Griffins were granted a golden opportunity to reclaim the lead thanks to 1:16 of a 5-on-3 power play, but Brodeur and the Amerks' bottom-ranked penalty killers held strong. Rochester nearly went ahead minutes later, but a furious sequence of near-misses around the Grand Rapids net ultimately proved fruitless, sending the game to overtime.
Howard, who finished with 32 saves, allowed a first-round shootout goal to Ross Carlson before slamming the door on Rochester's final four attempts. But Brodeur denied Mattias Ritola, Cory Emmerton, Evan McGrath, Darren Haydar and Oulahen in succession to secure the victory for the visitors.
A pair of Griffins franchise records were set tonight, as it marked their fifth straight contest to extend past regulation time (3-0-1-1) and their third straight home game to be decided in a shootout (2-0-0-1).
Three Stars: 1. RCH Brodeur (SOW, 35 saves); 2. GR Howard (SOL, 32 saves); 3. RCH Brine (game-tying goal)
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