Griffins gain first-ever win at Rockford MetroCentre
January 17, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
Rockford, Ill. - The Grand Rapids Griffins bounced back from a rare home loss with their first-ever win at the Rockford MetroCentre, defeating the Rockford IceHogs 3-2 on Saturday night. The Griffins scored two goals early in the first period and then Jimmy Howard made 24 saves to preserve the win.
Both Ryan Oulahen and Aaron Gagnon had multi-point games for the Griffins (25-9-5-3), who successfully killed off the only Rockford power play in the contest. That kill extended the team's streak to a franchise-record 11 consecutive games without allowing a power-play goal.
Jamie Tardif put the Griffins up early with his goal 1:41 into the contest. After Tardif snuck behind the IceHogs' defense, Ville Leino sent a pass through the neutral zone that Tardif corralled for a breakaway on Rockford goaltender Corey Crawford. Tardif went to his forehand and slid the puck between Crawford's pad for his ninth goal of the season and a 1-0 Grand Rapids lead.
The Griffins went up 2-0 when Ryan Oulahen scored his 10th goal of the season 4:37 after the Tardif goal. After a faceoff win in the Rockford zone, Jonathan Ericsson took a long shot that Oulahen redirected into the top corner of the net.
The IceHogs made it a one-goal deficit with a goal by Pete MacArthur at the 17:00 mark of the first. Rockford gloved down a clearing attempt by the Griffins and MacArthur converted with a wrist shot from the left circle to cut the lead in half.
After the Griffins killed their 40th consecutive power play, Darren Haydar came out of the penalty box and broke in on a two-on-one with Aaron Gagnon. Haydar drove in on Crawford and drove a shot over his glove for a 3-1 Grand Rapids lead with just 45 seconds remaining in the second period.
At the 5:23 mark of the third period, Rockford climbed back to within one with a goal that looked eerily similar to its first. The IceHogs held in a clearing attempt inside the Grand Rapids zone and this time it was Tim Hambly that converted with a wrist shot from the left circle, making the score 3-2.
Crawford finished the game with 16 saves in the loss for the IceHogs. The two teams will play again on Monday afternoon, with a 3:05 p.m. EST opening faceoff.
American Hockey League Stories from January 17, 2009
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