AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Griffins shoot down Aeros in shootout

Published on January 23, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


HOUSTON –Grand Rapids Griffins goaltender Joey MacDonald stopped 46 shots and all four shootout attempts to backstop the Griffins to a 4-3 shootout win over the Houston Aeros at the Toyota Center on Sunday evening.

Todd Robinson scored the clinching goal in the shootout. Initially, the referee ruled the puck did not cross the line, but after conferring with a linesman and the goal judge he credited Robinson with his fourth conversion in as many shootout attempts. Eric Himelfarb also beat Mike Smith in the second round of the shootout.

For the second consecutive game, the Griffins (21-17-1-1) opened the scoring when Brett Lebda tallied his first professional goal at 6:29 of the first period. Lebda blasted a shot from the left wing circle off a feed from Brent Kelly.

Houston (19-16-2-2) answered with a power play marker by Erik Reitz with 4:20 minutes remaining in the opening frame. Pierre-Marc Bouchard found Reitz in the slot. Reitz promptly fired the puck past MacDonald for his first goal this season.

Kip Miller added to the first-goal parade with his initial tally of the season. Nathan Robinson hit Miller with a pass sending him on a mini-breakaway in the Houston zone. Miller lifted the puck over Smith at 8:02 of the second period to give the Griffins a 2-1 lead.

Grand opened a 3-1 lead with a power play tally by Himelfarb about three minutes later. Miller fired a shot from a sharp angle. Smith stopped the shot, but left a loose puck in the crease. Himelfarb whacked at the loose puck to record his third goal in the last two games. Miller, who earned an assist on the goal, has scored two points in each of the last three games.

Four minutes into the third period, Houston pulled within 3-2 when Mikko Koivu converted a mini-breakaway. He gained control of the puck at the Griffins' blueline as a result of a turnover, skated in on MacDonald and tucked the puck under the crossbar.

With 5:42 left in regulation, Bouchard knotted the score at 3-3. Bouchard gathered the puck on the left side of the net. He quickly snapped a shot between MacDonald's legs.

Smith stopped 18 shots for Houston.

Grand Rapids will try to improve on its impressive 12-5-0-1 road record with games in Edmonton on Wednesday and Thursday at 9 p.m.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 23, 2005


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