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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Griffins Find Offense in 5-2 Win over Wild

November 11, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Griffins snapped a three-game losing streak on Wednesday at Van Andel Arena with a 5-2 defeat of the Iowa Wild.

Entering the night leading the AHL in shots per game (35.36) but averaging a league-low 1.38 goals per game, the Griffins flipped the script tonight by securing a season-high five goals, while simultaneously registering their fewest amount of shots so far with 24.

The Griffins (2-7-0-0) will now depart for a two-game road trip against the Lake Erie Monsters, with games to be held on both Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena.

A familiar trend plagued the Griffins in the opening period, when the first goal of the game went the way of the opponents at just 3:21. The product of a right-circle clearing attempt, Nathan Paetsch's blind backhander found its way onto the stick of Iowa's Kurtis Gabriel, who floated into the far corner and fed a waiting Brett Bulmer just inside of the circle. Bulmer's goal marked the eighth time this season that the Griffins have allowed the first goal in only nine games played.

With just under five minutes remaining in the first, Mitch Callahan put the Griffins on the board courtesy of his first goal of the season. Posted up in front of Leland Irving's cage, Callahan found a piece of Anthony Mantha's lofty left-circle shot and tipped the puck in at 15:14 to even the score at one apiece.

Late first-period minor penalties against Andy Miele for high-sticking and Ruslan Fedotenko for hooking carried over into the second, creating a wild stretch of scoring during a four-on-four. First, Paetsch delivered a cross-rink pass to the stick of Eric Tangradi, who zoomed in from the blue line and rifled a shot into Irving's top-right corner at 1:07. Just 13 seconds later, Iowa tied the game at 2-2 with an unassisted goal by Zack Mitchell.

Colin Campbell earned the eventual game-winning goal for Grand Rapids at 5:57 of the second, before Paetsch added an insurance tally at 9:23 of the same frame.

Despite Iowa (3-9-1-2) outshooting Grand Rapids 12-7 in the third frame, Griffins goaltender Jared Coreau remained steadfast throughout and was particularly potent in shutting down a Wild five-on-three advantage midway through the period.

Tangradi put the contest out of reach with his second goal of the night - and third of the season - via an empty-netter at 18:06 of the final stanza.

Coreau earned his second victory behind a 27-save performance, while Irving turned aside 19 shots in defeat.

Notes: Grand Rapids has won its last eight meetings overall against the Wild, including its last four at home dating back to the 2013-14 season...Before notching five goals in tonight's victory, the Griffins had only 11 goals through eight games played.

Three Stars: 1. GR Campbell (game-winning goal); 2. GR Miele (two assists); 3. GR Coreau (W, 27 saves)

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