AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Late Surge Falls Short in Griffins' Loss to Milwaukee

Published on January 28, 2023 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Milwaukee Admirals' Marc Del Gaizo Battles Grand Rapids Griffins' Matt Luff
Milwaukee Admirals' Marc Del Gaizo Battles Grand Rapids Griffins' Matt Luff
(Grand Rapids Griffins, Credit: Milwaukee Admirals)

MILWAUKEE - A late surge from the Grand Rapids Griffins fell short in a 4-2 loss against the Milwaukee Admirals on Saturday at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.

Matt Luff returned to the Grand Rapids lineup, tallying an assist in his first game since sustaining an injury with the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 8 and the first contest with the Griffins since Oct. 23. Simon Edvinsson lit the lamp in the third period, his second goal in a Grand Rapids uniform and his third point in the last four games. In his second game as a Griffin, Jasper Weatherby got on the scoresheet with a goal in the final stanza.

The Admirals bagged a pair of power-play goals to open the first period, beginning with Zach Sanford slipping the puck just behind Alex Nedeljkovic in the goalmouth at 7:05. Egor Afanasyev capitalized on the following power play by burying a wrister into the top shelf at 9:12. Dominik Shine nearly cut the deficit in half while shorthanded with 4:45 to go, but his shot ricocheted off the goal post. With 2:39 remaining in the opening frame, Rolan McKeown scored the Admirals' third goal from the right circle to take a commanding lead heading into the second.

After being outshot 19-7 in the first, the Griffins were able to outshoot the Admirals with nine shots to Milwaukee's eight. However, Cole Schneider made Grand Rapids pay for a turnover in the Admirals' zone by tapping the puck up ice and recording an unassisted goal at 1:45 in the second period.

The Griffins picked up a ton of momentum for the final frame, outshooting Milwaukee 14-5 in the last 20 minutes of play. Edvinsson struck first by skating up the right-wing boards, past a defender and into the crease. The Swede tapped the puck past Devin Cooley at 5:03 for a 5-on-3 goal. Weatherby notched his second point in a Grand Rapids uniform at 8:47 by rifling a shot from the left circle over the shoulder of Cooley to make it 4-2. The Griffins pulled Nedeljkovic with 4:38 remaining, but Milwaukee was able to hold on despite the late effort from Grand Rapids.

Notes

- After the Griffins failed to convert on their last 24 power-play opportunities, Edvinsson's 5-on-3 goal snapped the streak.

- Austin Czarnik's assist on Edvinsson's goal was his 300th professional point.

- Weatherby has a point in his first two games as a Griffin, tallying a goal in the loss and an assist in their 3-2 defeat to Springfield on Jan. 21.

Grand Rapids 0 0 2 - 2

Milwaukee 3 1 0 - 4

1st Period-1, Milwaukee, Sanford 7 (M. Del Gaizo, Sherwood), 7:05 (PP). 2, Milwaukee, Afanasyev 10 (M. Del Gaizo, Leonard), 9:12 (PP). 3, Milwaukee, McKeown 4 (Afanasyev, Gravel), 17:21. Penalties-Barton Gr (hooking), 5:45; Luff Gr (tripping), 7:29; Chiasson Gr (cross-checking), 15:01; Mutter Mil (holding), 17:34.

2nd Period-4, Milwaukee, Schneider 15 1:15. Penalties-Schaller Mil (cross-checking), 9:20; Pearson Gr (cross-checking, fighting), 12:09; M. Del Gaizo Mil (cross-checking, slashing, fighting), 12:09.

3rd Period-5, Grand Rapids, Edvinsson 2 (Czarnik), 5:03 (PP). 6, Grand Rapids, Weatherby 4 (Luff, Newpower), 8:47. Penalties-Mutter Mil (interference), 3:36; McKeown Mil (slashing), 4:36; Czarnik Gr (tripping), 12:27.

Shots on Goal-Grand Rapids 7-9-14-30. Milwaukee 19-8-5-32.

Power Play Opportunities-Grand Rapids 1 / 5; Milwaukee 2 / 4.

Goalies-Grand Rapids, Nedeljkovic 4-3-2 (32 shots-28 saves). Milwaukee, Cooley 10-6-0 (30 shots-28 saves).

A-8,001

Three Stars

1. MIL Sanford (goal); 2. MIL Afanasyev (goal, assist); 3. MIL Marc Del Gaizo (two assists).

Record / Next Game

Grand Rapids: 15-20-2-2 (34 pts.) / Sun., Jan. 29 at Chicago 4 p.m.

Milwaukee: 24-14-1-2 (51 pts.) / Tue., Jan. 31 vs. Grand Rapids 7 p.m. CST.

Check out the Grand Rapids Griffins Statistics

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Images from this story

Milwaukee Admirals' Marc Del Gaizo Battles Grand Rapids Griffins' Matt Luff
Milwaukee Admirals' Marc Del Gaizo Battles Grand Rapids Griffins' Matt Luff
(Milwaukee Admirals)		   



American Hockey League Stories from January 28, 2023


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