MacLean scores 51st as Griffins beat Admirals
Published on March 14, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
MILWAUKEE - Donald MacLean added goal number 51 on the season and Grand Rapids extended its winning streak to four games Tuesday night in scintillating fashion, as the Milwaukee Admirals surrendered a three-goal lead en route to a 5-3 Griffins win in front of the stunned masses at the Bradley Center.
The Admirals struck first on a feed from behind the net by Paul Brown to Sheldon Brookbank on the doorstep for a 1-0 lead at 14:12 of the opening stanza.
The floodgates opened as Milwaukee took full advantage on the power play to begin the second, staking out to a 2-0 edge on Chris Durno's 16th goal of the season. Brown added another tally with the extra attacker, chasing Griffins netminder Joey MacDonald from the pipes just 1:51 into the frame. Jimmy Howard was strong in relief, blanking the Admirals the rest of the way, and setting the stage for the Grand Rapids assault.
MacLean stretched his team-record goal-scoring streak to eight games, using his rocket sauce to fling a power play shot past the previously impenetrable Pekka Rinne at 8:30 of the second to draw Grand Rapids within two. The league's leading goal-producer pulled within a single marker of the 55-year-old all-time Grand Rapids professional single-season record, held by George Parker of the 1950-51 IHL Rockets.
The Griffins stormed back in the third with a vengeance, as Tomas Kopecky backhanded an unassisted shot home to trim the Milwaukee lead to 3-2 with 17:44 remaining. A subsequent penalty against the Admirals gave Grand Rapids another man-advantage, and Jiri Hudler jumped on a rebound to square the score at three with his 34th goal of the year.
Eric Himelfarb smuggled a point-blank shot past replacement goaltender Brian Finley on a delayed penalty call to give the Griffins their first lead of the night, and Bryan Helmer salved Milwaukee's wounds with a salty blast on yet another power play to make it 5-3 - capping a surreal surge of five unanswered Griffins goals to seal the victory.
Power plays were the determining factor in the game as Grand Rapids converted on 40% (4-of-10), while Milwaukee capitalized on two early chances but faded late to finish at 25% (2-of-8).
Grand Rapids improves to 46-16-1-4 with the win, good for a 13-point margin over the Syracuse Crunch for the North Division lead. The Griffins continue with the second in a grueling stretch of four games in five nights against the Manitoba Moose at Van Andel Arena Wednesday night. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
American Hockey League Stories from March 14, 2006
- Admirals lose tough one to Griffins - Milwaukee Admirals
- MacLean scores 51st as Griffins beat Admirals - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Bears release 2006 clear day roster - Hershey Bears
- Phantoms adopt US Army platoon - Adirondack Phantoms
- P-Bruins have six-point weekend - Providence Bruins
- Roster Released For Playoff Push - Bridgeport Islanders
- Monsters to host Guns 'N Hoses Night this Sunday - Albany Devils
- Rivermen sign new goaltender to finalize Clear Day roster - Peoria Rivermen
- Pirates Announce Clear Day Roster - Portland Pirates
- Capitals Recall Klepis from Hershey, Assign Beech and Gordon - Hershey Bears
- Monarchs Announce Clear Day Roster - Manchester Monarchs
- Playoffs in Sight - Syracuse Crunch
- Sharks reassign goaltender Nolan Schaefer to Barons - Cleveland Barons
- Rampage announce Clear Day roster - San Antonio Rampage
- Hartford Wolf Pack Announce Clear Day Roster - Connecticut Whale
- Stars announce Clear Day roster - Iowa Chops
- Wolves Announce Playoff Roster - Chicago Wolves
- Mitch Fritz Set To Deliver Food - Springfield Falcons
- Wolf Pack add Holt from Charlotte - Connecticut Whale
- Norfolk announces Clear Day list - Norfolk Admirals
- Aeros announce Clear Day roster - Houston Aeros
- Griffins announce Clear Day roster - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Bulldogs announce Clear Day Roster - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Moose Finalize Clear Day Roster - Manitoba Moose
- River Rats Roster Shrinks - Albany River Rats
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