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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Griffins Start 2016 on Winning Note, Defeat Manitoba 4-1

January 3, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


WINNIPEG - A pair of goals from Mark Zengerle helped the Grand Rapids Griffins begin 2016 on a winning note, defeating the Manitoba Moose 4-1 on Sunday at MTS Centre.

Anthony Mantha opened the scoring for the Griffins (19-10-0-1) 6:03 into the opening period. Tyler Bertuzzi fed Mantha at center ice, with Mantha gaining the zone up the middle and firing a quick wrist shot from the top of the right circle sneaking underneath Eric Comrie's glove and in. The Griffins controlled the play in the game's early stages, outshooting Manitoba 10-0 in the opening eight minutes.

Zengerle added to the Griffins' lead with 2:18 remaining in the first. After Julian Melchiori and Chase DeLeo both failed to get the puck out of their own end, Bertuzzi's initial effort from below the right circle ricocheted off Melchiori's skate and onto the stick of Zengerle in front, lifting the puck over a sprawling Comrie. Grand Rapids outshot the Moose 21-6 after 20 minutes.

The save of the game came from Andy Miele five minutes into the middle frame. Brandon Kichton drove the net for Manitoba, forcing a pad save from Jared Coreau. With Coreau out of position, Nicholas Petan ended up with the puck in the slot and a seemingly wide-open net. However, Miele dropped to his knees in the goal crease, blocking Petan's effort with his right leg to keep the Griffins' 2-0 lead intact.

Martin Frk gave the Griffins a three-goal cushion with 6:04 left in regulation. Positioned at the bottom of the right circle, Frk redirected Eric Tangradi's pass, requiring a left toe save from Comrie. Frk then recovered his own rebound, pushing the puck past Comrie's left pad and glove.

Austen Brassard scored on the power play to put Manitoba (9-17-1-2) on the board with 2:35 remaining. With Comrie pulled for the extra skater, Kichton's pass from the right point found Scott Kosmachuk for a one-timer at the top of the left circle, with Brassard getting a slight deflection to beat Coreau on the short side.

Zengerle scored his second of the night on an empty-netter with 1:32 on the clock to restore the Griffins' three-goal advantage. The result ended Manitoba's seven-game home point streak.

The Moose finished 1-for-4 on the power play, while Grand Rapids was unable to score on two opportunities. Coreau stopped 25 of 26 shots for his 15th victory of the season, while Eric Comrie stopped 33 of 36 shots in a losing effort. The Griffins have another meeting with Manitoba at MTS Centre on Tuesday at 8 p.m. EST.

Three Stars: 1. GR Coreau (W, 25 saves); 2. GR Zengerle (two goals); 3. MB Comrie (L, 33 saves)

Notes: Sunday marked the Griffins' first visit to Winnipeg since a 3-2 victory over the Moose on Oct. 16, 2010. The Moose returned to Manitoba for the 2015-16 campaign after spending four seasons in St. John's, Newfoundland.

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