Griffins Melt Hershey
November 27, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
HERSHEY, PA - The Grand Rapids Griffins (12-3-4-0) extended their team-record unbeaten streak to 14 games with a 3-1 win over the Hershey Bears (10-5-2-1) at the Giant Center on Wednesday night.
The win extends goaltender Marc Lamothe's team-record unbeaten streak to 13 games (9-0-4). Lamothe stopped 33 of 34 shots.
Hershey hadn't lost in their four games, boasting a 3-0-1-0 mark. The Bears also hadn't lost in their last seven games in their new arena, posting a 5-0-2-0.
The Griffins struck first when rookie Danny Groulx shot a pinball that bounced off Hershey goaltender Philippe Sauve's equipment and into the goal for his first professional goal at 6:14 of the first from Tim Skarperud.
The Griffins extended their lead to 2-0 in the second period when Tomas Kopecky fired a laser over Sauve's left shoulder for his fifth tally of the season at 9:55 of the second period from Stacy Roest. The assist gives Roest at least one point in the Griffins' last four games and 10 of the last 12 contests.
The Bears answered with a tally at 18:39 of the second period by Alex Riazantsev off a face-off win by Mark Freer, cutting the Griffins' lead to 2-1.
Hugo Boisvert's unassisted breakaway goal at 13:05 of the third period regained the Griffins a two-goal lead.
Sauve stopped 26 of 29 shots in a losing effort.
The Griffins travel to Binghamton to play the Senators tomorrow night at 6:05 p.m. The Senators have 13 former Griffins on their team. The Griffins won the only other Thanksgiving Day contest on Nov. 27, 1997, when Michel Picard's two goals lifted Grand Rapids to a 3-1 road win over the IHL's Fort Wayne Komets.
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