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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Griffins Move into Conference Lead

March 2, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids, Mich. - Thanks in large part to Derek King's two goals, the Griffins assumed the top seed in the Western Conference playoff race on Sunday afternoon with their fifth consecutive victory, a 3-2 decision over the Rochester Americans at Van Andel Arena.

Grand Rapids, which leap-frogged the idle Houston Aeros (87 pts.) by earning its 88th point of the campaign, has won 10 of its last 11 outings. Before starting their current hot streak with a 5-2 win over Philadelphia on Feb. 12, the Griffins trailed the Aeros by nine points in the conference standings (77-68).

Grand Rapids (39-15-8-2), which also extended its Central Division lead to an all-time high 25 points over Rochester, moved to within seven points of clinching both a playoff spot and its fourth consecutive division crown. The Griffins will play their next three games against the San Antonio Rampage, beginning Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at Van Andel Arena.

Rochester (23-24-13-4) struck first during a power play at 7:59 of the opening period, when Norm Milley collected a rebound in the slot and slid a backhand through a sea of bodies and past Joey MacDonald.

A fantastic effort by King tied the score at 12:43 of the second period. Stacy Roest and King broke across the Rochester line, with King fighting his way around an Amerks defender and Roest sending a pass from the right circle to the top of the crease. Rochester goalie Tom Askey attempted a poke check, but King's stick got to the puck first and deflected it over the lunging netminder.

King notched his second goal less than five minutes later. Tomas Kopecky gathered the puck in the slot during a scramble and, with Askey at the top of his crease, found King all alone to the right of the net for an easy goal at 17:38.

The Griffins extended their lead to 3-1 before the period was out, thanks to great plays by the AHL's second and fourth-leading scorers. Michel Picard brought the puck down the left wing and, while falling down, managed to lift a pass to Mark Mowers, who was streaking down the high slot toward the net. Mowers went airborne to grab the puck, dropped it on his stick and sent a backhand past Askey with 1:06 left in the frame.

The Amerks got one back during a power play 4:49 into the third period, when Denis Hamel tipped Paul Gaustad's pass from the right goal line past MacDonald, who has now posted a 7-1 record while allowing only nine goals over his last eight games. He finished with 19 saves.

Askey, who shut out the Griffins twice last season at Van Andel Arena, suffered the loss despite 25 stops.

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