Griffins Run Winning Streak to Six
Published on November 6, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Led by a pair of Cory Emmerton goals, the Grand Rapids Griffins capped off the first perfect six-game homestand in franchise history with a 5-4 victory over the Chicago Wolves on Friday at Van Andel Arena.
The Griffins (7-4-0-0) rallied from a 2-0 deficit for the third time in their six home wins, scoring four unanswered goals to chase former Detroit Red Wings goalie Manny Legace before holding on to continue their best-ever start on home ice. After posting their longest winning streaks both overall and at home since February 2007, they'll hit the road for the first time since Oct. 18 on Sunday when they travel to Cleveland to battle the Lake Erie Monsters at 3 p.m.
Chicago put the home team on its heels by scoring twice in the opening 6:50. Just 21 seconds in, Brett Sterling redirected Scott Lehman's slapper past Daniel Larsson on the game's first shot, before Andrew Kozek single-handedly made it a 2-0 contest by forcing a turnover along the right boards, collecting the puck and beating Larsson from high in the circle.
Following a near-miss by Doug Janik that rang off the right post, the Griffins got on the board at the 7:46 mark. Evan McGrath gathered the puck at the left point and darted down the slot before centering a feed to Jamie Tardif, who slipped a shot just inside Legace's right post.
Emmerton tied the game early in the second period with his first goal of the season. He sped down the right side, swooped around his defender and put a puck on net that bounced off a couple Chicago bodies on the doorstep before finding its way across the line at 3:36. Emmerton then gave the Griffins their first lead of the night in a more conventional manner at 7:15. Legace easily stopped Francis Pare's sharp-angle shot from the right corner, but Emmerton crashed the net to jam the rebound home.
The Griffins' fourth straight goal, a Jeremy Williams cannon from the top of the right circle at 8:07 on the team's 14th shot of the night, sent Legace packing in favor of another former Griffin, Drew MacIntyre. Soon after, John Pohl broke Grand Rapids' string and pulled Chicago within one with 6:32 left in the frame, toe-dragging at the right hashmarks and waiting for a screen before launching a shot past Larsson.
A harmless looking shot by Jan Mursak from the high slot managed to find MacIntyre's five hole at 17:21 of the third period to make it 5-3, a goal that proved crucial after Chicago's Joey Crabb scored with an extra attacker on the ice with just 20.2 seconds left.
Larsson earned his fourth straight win by making 28 saves, while MacIntyre suffered an undeserved loss despite stopping eight of the nine shots that came his way. The Wolves (5-7-0-1) lost in regulation for just the second time in seven games since replacing their coaching staff.
American Hockey League Stories from November 6, 2009
- First meeting with Toronto ends in loss for Lake Erie - Cleveland Monsters
- Climie and Texas shutout Manitoba 4-0 - Texas Stars
- Albany comes-back for 5-4 overtime win against Lowell - Albany River Rats
- 'Dogs drop first game in regulation 2-1 to B-Sens - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Falcons Beat Sound Tigers - Move Into Third Place In Division - Springfield Falcons
- Groulx-ing End To Nine Round Shootout - Manchester Monarchs
- Taylor's overtime heroics give Amerks ninth straight win - Rochester Americans
- Moose shut out in Texas - Manitoba Moose
- River Rats Snap Four-Game Winless-Streak - Albany River Rats
- Griffins Run Winning Streak to Six - Grand Rapids Griffins
- River Rats Rally to Drop Devils in OT, 5-4 - Albany Devils
- Falcons fly past Sound Tigers - Bridgeport Islanders
- Sharks Win in Nine-Round Shootout - Worcester Sharks
- B-Sens beat Bulldogs 2-1 for second straight win - Binghamton Senators
- Wolf Pack win over Bruins - Connecticut Whale
- Three-Goal Third Period Earns Crunch Hard Fought Point - Syracuse Crunch
- Griffins edge Wolves, 5-4 - Chicago Wolves
- Admirals Win Third Straight Game to Even Record - Norfolk Admirals
- Pirates Blank the Bears - Portland Pirates
- P-Bruins fall to Wolf Pack 5-3 - Providence Bruins
- First Round Draft Picks Boedker & Ross Join Rampage - San Antonio Rampage
- Griffins' Three Games In Four Days Packed With Promotions - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Meet The Phantoms At UNO Chicago Grill - Adirondack Phantoms
- Crunch Announce Details Of Crunch Foundation Prize Wheel - Syracuse Crunch
- Coyotes Recall Heshka From San Antonio - San Antonio Rampage
- Falcons Host The Sound Tigers Tonight - Springfield Falcons
- Amerks Look For Nine Straight Tonight Against Syracuse - Rochester Americans
- Crunch Sign Right Wing Simon Ferguson And Center Bryan Lundbohm - Syracuse Crunch
- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
- Pirates Sign Goaltender Nie - Portland Pirates
- Derlago Signs PTO With P-Bruins - Providence Bruins
- Griffins Welcome Wolves Tonight - Grand Rapids Griffins
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