MacDonald Stifles Griffins in Return to Van Andel Arena
January 22, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - During five memorable seasons (2002-07) as a member of the Grand Rapids Griffins, Joey MacDonald won 38 games at Van Andel Arena. He earned his first victory as an opposing goaltender at the venue on Friday, making 24 saves to lead the Toronto Marlies to a 4-1 victory over his old team.
The Griffins (21-22-0-1) could muster only a third-period tally by John Vigilante against their former netminder, as they fell below the 0.500 mark for the first time since Oct. 24 by dropping their ninth home game in their last 10 tries. They'll look to rebound during a weekend trip to Illinois, with games at Rockford on Saturday and Chicago on Sunday.
Toronto (16-20-5-2), which entered the night with league-low four road victories and a seven-game losing streak, scored the lone goal of the opening period during a power play with 1:23 remaining, when Tim Brent scored from the doorstep during his season debut.
Odd-man rushes proved to be the Griffins' downfall in the second period, as Jonas Frogren finished off a 2-on-1 by scoring into a gaping net from the left side at 10:30, before Andre Deveaux grabbed a loose puck at center ice and headed down the left side on a 3-on-1, ripping a shot top-shelf from the circle at 13:49 to make it a 3-0 game.
MacDonald, who earned 11 of his Grand Rapids franchise-record 16 shutouts at Van Andel Arena, lost a chance for his first shutout of the Griffins 8:12 into the third period, when Vigilante scored on a sharp-angle shot from the left corner. But he shut the door the rest of the way, and Viktor Stalberg scored into an empty net with 47 seconds left for the final margin.
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