AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Mrazek Backstops Griffins to Third Straight Win

Published on November 7, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Griffins extended their winning streak to three games and climbed above the 0.500 mark for the first time this season on Wednesday, claiming a 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee Admirals in their 12th annual matinee game at Van Andel Arena.

Rookie netminder Petr Mrazek made 24 saves to backstop the Griffins (5-4-1-1) to their first home win and improve his personal record to 3-0, marking the third-best debut ever for a Grand Rapids goalie. Only Ty Conklin (2011-12) and Mathieu Chouinard (2000-01) enjoyed better starts (5-0) in a Griffins uniform than Mrazek, who currently ranks third in the AHL in both goals against average (1.30) and save percentage (0.954).

Grand Rapids, which last won three straight during a five-game streak from Feb. 22-March 3, will try to maintain its hot hand on Friday when the Rockford IceHogs pay a 7 p.m. visit to Van Andel Arena.

The Griffins jumped ahead 13:54 into the game on one of just three shots they launched during the opening period, as Riley Sheahan tallied his first goal of the season in shorthanded fashion on a wrister from the slot that beat Jeremy Smith.

Mrazek, meanwhile, was a busy man during the first 20 minutes of his home debut, facing 12 shots and allowing only a 5-on-3 power play goal to Jonathon Blum, who blistered a shot over Mrazek's right shoulder from the top of the left circle at 15:56.

Early in the middle frame, just seconds after Brendan Smith was denied on a breakaway chance, the home team took a 2-1 lead. Chad Billins teed-up a slap shot from the right point that stayed low to the ice, allowing Francis Pare to redirect it home from the doorstep at the 6:15 mark.

The Admirals (4-6-0-0) once again answered to knot the score before the second intermission. Jack MacLellan brought the puck out of the right corner and threw it out front, where it caromed off the shaft of Juuso Puustinen's stick and past Mrazek at 12:38.

Joakim Andersson gave the Griffins their third lead during a power play 11:18 into the final period. Billins skated toward the net in the right circle and slipped the puck to the top of the crease, where Andersson was positioned to redirect it inside the left post. The assist marked the third of the afternoon for Billins, tying him for the AHL lead with 11 and giving him a pair of three-point games and four multi-point outings in his first 11 professional contests.

Gustav Nyquist tacked on an empty-netter with 30 seconds left, pushing him into a tie for second in the AHL scoring race with 13 points (6-7-13).

Notes: Grand Rapids improved to 8-3-0-1 in its annual matinee game, whose 11 a.m. start time today was the earliest ever for a Griffins home contest...The Griffins debuted their new Wednesday game sweaters with an alternate Griffins logo, the first primarily-red jerseys that they will wear regularly since the 2004-05 season.

Three Stars: 1. GR Andersson (GWG, assist); 2. GR Billins (three assists); 3. GR Mrazek (W, 24 saves)

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American Hockey League Stories from November 7, 2012


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