AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Griffins roll unlucky seven with 3-2 loss

Published on January 15, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Another solid effort by the Grand Rapids Griffins resulted in an unfortunately familiar result on Saturday, as the Milwaukee Admirals used two Darren Haydar goals to skate to a 3-2 win at Van Andel Arena. Two-point nights from Nathan Robinson and Kip Miller were unable to prevent a franchise-record seventh consecutive defeat for the Griffins on home ice, five of which have come by a single goal.

The Griffins (19-17-1-1) will complete their homestand against the Chicago Wolves this Friday, Jan. 21, before playing eight of the following nine games on the road. The game will be televised live throughout Michigan at 7:30 p.m., debuting the Griffins' six-game package on Comcast Local.

Grand Rapids found itself facing a 2-0 deficit for the sixth straight home game and seventh time in its last eight games overall, thanks to a pair of Milwaukee power play goals late in the opening period. Haydar converted a backdoor pass during a 5-on-3 at 17:02, and Jordin Tootoo fired over Joey MacDonald from the right faceoff dot at 18:18.

However, the Griffins would go to the locker room in only a one-goal hole courtesy of Todd Robinson, whose one-timer from the top of the slot beat Brian Finley 26 seconds later. For Robinson, it marked his second goal in as many nights and his third in the last five contests.

Miller and Nathan Robinson combined to draw the Griffins even with a power play goal 5:27 into the middle period. As two defenders converged on a driving Miller at the top of the slot, he slid a pass toward the crease to the uncovered Robinson, who quickly moved the puck to his forehand and stuffed it inside the left post.

The deadlock lasted only until the 8:07 mark, as Haydar gained possession in the left corner, darted straight to the slot and slipped a shot beneath MacDonald for his second of the night and a 3-2 Milwaukee lead.

The Admirals (24-10-2-1) had a chance to salt the game away early in the final period when Matt Ellis was whistled off on a five-minute high sticking major, but the Griffins' penalty killers did an admirable job to keep the visitors' lead at one. Grand Rapids pressed for the equalizer but Finley was up to the task with several impressive saves, including a point-blank stop on Blake Sloan with eight minutes left.

Finley finished with 28 saves, while MacDonald answered with 24 in the losing effort.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 15, 2005


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