Griffins Get Back on Track with 3-2 Win
December 7, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
Grand Rapids, Mich. - Mark Mowers' acrobatic goal early in the third period propelled the Grand Rapids Griffins to a 3-2 victory over the Utah Grizzlies on Saturday night at Van Andel Arena.
With the scored deadlocked at two goals apiece, Mowers went airborne in the slot to lunge for a pass from Tim Skarperud. Mowers poked the puck through Corey Hirsch's five hole at 3:36 to break Grand Rapids' five-game winless streak and give the Griffins a 7-1-2-0 record in their last 10 at home.
The Griffins (13-6-4-2), who re-opened an eight-point lead atop the Central Division with the win, will enjoy a much-needed break before hosting the Hamilton Bulldogs next Friday at 7:30 p.m.
For the second straight night, the Griffins jumped out to an early lead against the visiting Grizzlies. During a Utah power play, Hugo Boisvert blocked a shot in the Grand Rapids zone, raced the puck down near the Grizzlies' bench and unleashed a shot from the left circle that sailed over Corey Hirsch's shoulder and into the net at 12:20.
The Grizzlies answered with two goals in the second frame to take the lead by the game's midpoint. Jeff MacMillan lifted a shot over a sprawled Marc Lamothe just 40 seconds into the period, and Jon Sim slammed a pass home from the doorstep during a 5-on-3 advantage at 7:24.
In a reversal of last night's decision, however, it was the Griffins who would rally from a one-goal deficit to post a 3-2 win. Just a few minutes after the Grizzlies took the lead, and only four seconds after their own power play had expired, the Griffins pulled even when Sheldon Brookbank's shot from just inside the blueline slipped past a sleeping Hirsch at 10:54.
The Griffins were bolstered by the netminding of Marc Lamothe, who returned to Grand Rapids earlier today after serving as the backup for the Detroit Red Wings' 3-3 tie at Dallas on Friday. Lamothe made 24 saves to improve to 10-3-4-2 on the season, and he'll rejoin the Wings tomorrow prior to their home game against St. Louis.
Hirsch turned aside 19 shots for the Grizzlies (13-12-0-1), who completed a seven-game road swing with a 4-3 mark.
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American Hockey League Stories from December 7, 2002
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