AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Hudler, McDonald scald Wolves

Published on October 16, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Rosemont, Illinois – In a three-minute span in the second period, the Grand Rapids Griffins (2-0-0-0) recorded three goals en route to a 5-1 rout of the Chicago Wolves (0-2-0-0) on Saturday night at the Allstate Arena. The Griffins received multi-point efforts from five players, including three points in one period from Jiri Hudler. Also contributing multi-point nights were Eric Himelfarb (2-0-2), Niklas Kronwall (1-1-2), Darryl Bootland (1-1-2) and Matt Ellis (0-2-2).

Hudler tallied a goal and two assists in the second period, matching a franchise record for points in a single period. He was the last Griffin to accomplish the feat on Jan. 23, 2004 vs. San Antonio. Equally valuable to the Griffins victory were Joey MacDonald's 46 saves, essential to keeping the Wolves at bay on six of seven power play opportunities.

Grand Rapids opened the game's scoring with a power play marker by Himelfarb. Kronwall dished his third assist and Blake Sloan picked up his first helper at 13:11 of the opening period.

The Griffins doubled their margin when Kronwall tallied his first goal of the season at 14:52 of the second period. He followed his own blast from the blue line with a chip past Chicago's netminder, Kari Lehtonen. Hudler and Ellis assisted on the goal.

Thirty-two seconds later, Bootland capped a give-and-go with Hudler by banking the puck off the Finnish goaltender for his initial tally of the campaign. Ellis contributed an assist on the goal.

The flurry continued when Hudler deked Lehtonen and slid the puck into an open net expanding the Griffins lead to 4-0 with 2:17 remaining in the middle frame. Bootland and Danny Groulx assisted on Hudler's first goal of the season.

Lehtonen (0-2-0) made 18 saves in two periods of work before yielding to Michael Garnett. Garnett stopped all six shots he faced in the third period.

MacDonald's (2-0-0) shutout bid was thwarted by Steve Maltais who netted a power play goal at 14:31 of the third period from Cory Larose and Travis Roche.

Himelfarb provided the final tally when he backhanded a puck from the Griffins defensive zone into an empty net with 1:08 remaining in the third period for an unassisted, shorthanded goal.

The Griffins will play the San Antonio Rampage on Friday and Sunday evenings before returning to Van Andel Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 26 to take on the Rochester Americans at 7 p.m.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 16, 2004


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