Larsson's Second Straight Shutout Puts Griffins in Tie for First
December 27, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Daniel Larsson tied a franchise record with his second consecutive shutout on Saturday, making 23 saves to lead the Grand Rapids Griffins to a 2-0 victory over the Lake Erie Monsters at Van Andel Arena.
The win, coupled with Manitoba's 3-2 shootout loss at Toronto this evening, lifted the Griffins into a tie with the Moose atop the North Division at 43 points, marking the first time since Oct. 18, 2007 that Grand Rapids owns at least a share of first place.
Larsson, who stopped 38 shots in Sunday's 6-0 win at Rochester, became the sixth Griffins goalie to log back-to-back shutouts and the first since teammate Jimmy Howard did it during the 2006-07 campaign. His four shutouts tie for the AHL lead and put him within two of the team's single-season standard set by five other netminders.
Grand Rapids (18-7-4-3), which has blanked three of its last four opponents, will visit Peoria at 8 p.m. EST on Tuesday to begin a stretch of four games in five nights that will include the Griffins' 12th annual New Year's Eve game on Wednesday against Iowa.
Following a scoreless first period, the Griffins found all the offense they would need with a pair of power play markers early in the middle frame. Darren Haydar tallied his team-high 12th goal during a two-man advantage at 2:46, popping a shot high into the cage from the top of the right circle. Just 1:04 later, during the ensuing 5-on-4 power play, Haydar tried a shot from the left circle that Jason Bacashihua turned away, but Francis Lemieux found the rebound on the right side and deposited the puck into a yawning net.
Larsson's shutout streak now stands at 120:19, less than two periods shy of the team record (153:58) set by Marc Lamothe from Nov. 7-16, 2002. Over his last 12 outings (Nov. 11-Dec. 27), Larsson is 9-1-1 with four shutouts, a 1.85 GAA and a 0.935 save percentage.
Bacashihua made 31 saves in a solid effort for the Monsters (11-14-1-5), who have lost two straight since a five-game point streak.
Three Stars: 1. GR Larsson (shutout, 23 saves); 2. GR Haydar (game-winning/power play goal, assist); 3. GR Lemieux (power play goal)
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