AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Manitoba Moose 1 at GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 2

Published on March 13, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Once again, the AHL's best defense prevailed over the circuit's highest scoring offense.

Martin Prusek limited Manitoba to a single goal for the third time in as many series appearances, and his teammates killed off a shorthanded situation during the game's final two minutes to give the Grand Rapids Griffins a 2-1 win over the Moose on Wednesday night at Van Andel Arena.

Although the game turned chippy at times, the Griffins did not seek physical retribution against the Moose for a slew-footing incident on February 27 in which Chris Bala sustained a concussion. Instead, Grand Rapids (37-22-9-0) claimed revenge by improving to 5-1 against Manitoba this season and holding the high-powered Moose to two or fewer goals for the fifth time in six meetings this season.

The Griffins and Moose (31-30-3-3) will stage a rematch in Winnipeg on Friday at 8:30 p.m.

The Griffins drew first blood tonight by virtue of their first power play goal in four games. Bala backhanded a pass that deflected off the right of the goal out front to Josh Langfeld, who buried the puck over Martin Brochu at 3:20 of the opening period.

Less than four minutes later, Jeff Ulmer found redemption for an earlier attempt that had clanged off the crossbar. He collected a pass from Chris Kelly along the left goal line and took a sharp-angle shot that bounced off the back of Brochu's leg and across the line at 6:58.

Midway through the second period, the Moose closed to within one goal on their own power play tally, just the second for a Griffins' opponent over the last nine games. Taking advantage of a Griffins skater who had lost his stick, Justin Kurtz unleashed a blast from the top of the left circle that beat Prusek at the 12:21 mark.

With two minutes left in the game and the Griffins protecting their one-goal lead, defenseman John Gruden was sent to the box on a slashing call. Manitoba soon pulled Brochu for a six-on-four advantage but was unable to put a shot past Prusek, who has now allowed just 14 goals in 11 games since returning from a knee injury.

The victory enabled league-leading Grand Rapids to open up a four-point lead over the idle Utah Grizzlies in the West Division standings with 12 games remaining for each team.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 13, 2002


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