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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Griffins Win 12th Straight, Defeat Texas Stars 4-1

March 17, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


CEDAR PARK, Texas - Tom McCollum turned aside 40 of 41 shots as the Grand Rapids Griffins won their 12th straight game, defeating the Texas Stars 4-1 on Wednesday at Cedar Park Center.

McCollum has been outstanding over his last six starts, recording a 1.00 goals against average with a .969 save percentage and one shutout in that span. The result means the Griffins (40-20-1-1) have won at least 40 regular season games for the fourth consecutive season and 12th time in franchise history.

Ryan Sproul started the scoring for the Griffins 1:22 into the opening period. Jesse Blacker's backhanded clearing attempt from the left corner was kept in at the right point by Sproul, who fired a wrist shot high to the blocker side past a screened Maxime Lagace.

Gemel Smith responded for Texas (35-22-5-3) 50 seconds later. Cole Ully's blast from the high slot was stopped by McCollum, but Matt Mangene collected the rebound and sent a pass from behind the goal line through the crease to Smith for a tap-in at the right post.

Tomas Nosek gave the Griffins their second lead of the night at the 8:32 mark. Tyler Bertuzzi fed Brian Lashoff at the left point for shot that was redirected in front by the stick of Nosek, beating Lagace to the glove side.

The Griffins thought they had their third goal of the period with 19.3 seconds remaining after Robbie Russo's shot from the right point was redirected in front by Jeff Hoggan. However, the goal was waved off as the Grand Rapids captain's stick was above the height of the crossbar, keeping the Griffins' lead at 2-1 heading into the first intermission.

Eric Tangradi added to the Griffins' lead at the 9:29 mark of the middle frame. Sproul's attempt from the right point hit Tangradi in front, who then lifted a backhanded shot over a sprawling Lagace for his 23rd of the campaign.

Zach Nastasiuk gave Grand Rapids a three-goal cushion 3:08 into the third. Kevin King's backwards, no-look pass from center ice was intercepted by Louis-Marc Aubry at the Texas blue line. After Aubry's wrist shot from the slot forced a glove save from Lagace, Nastasiuk gathered the puck behind the goal line and banked a shot off the Texas netminder's left skate and in for his first goal as a Griffin.

Texas had a golden opportunity to cut into their deficit on the power play when Julius Honka was awarded a penalty shot after being hooked on a breakaway by Nathan Paetsch with 5:50 remaining. Honka moved in slowly on his forehand only to be denied by a McCollum pokecheck before he could get a shot away.

The Stars would not go away quietly, outshooting Grand Rapids 19-5 in the final frame, but failing to take advantage of three Griffin penalties in the final 5:50 of regulation including a 5-on-3 lasting 1:36. Texas finished 0-for-6 on the man advantage, while the Griffins did not have a single power play opportunity. Lagace stopped 25 of 29 shots in a losing effort.

The Griffins have a rematch against Texas at Cedar Park Center on Saturday at 8 p.m. EDT

Three Stars: 1. GR Sproul (goal, assist); 2. GR McCollum (W, 40 saves); 3. TEX Smith (goal)

Notes: Anthony Mantha became the 154th Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL, registering 14:45 of ice time for the Detroit Red Wings in a 4-3 defeat to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday at Wells Fargo Center...The Griffins have outscored their opponents 49-12 during their 12-game winning streak and 19-2 over their last five road games...Grand Rapids has won its last seven visits to Texas dating back to the 2013-14 season.

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