New Year, Same Result Against Rivermen
Published on January 1, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Griffins began 2011 in much the same manner that they spent 2010, dropping their 10th straight meeting with the Peoria Rivermen by a 2-0 count at Van Andel Arena on Saturday.
Rookie Jake Allen, the AHL's top-ranked goaltender, made 30 saves to record his league-leading fifth shutout and help Peoria improve to 5-0 against Grand Rapids this season. The Griffins, who lost all seven clashes against Peoria during the 2010 calendar year, have now dropped nine straight games to the Rivermen in regulation and 10 straight overall (0-9-0-1) since their last series win, a 4-1 decision at Van Andel Arena on Dec. 5, 2009.
After suffering just its second loss in its last seven home games, Grand Rapids (16-16-1-4) will close out a three-game homestand by hosting the North Division-leading Hamilton Bulldogs on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The contest will conclude a stretch that has seen the Griffins play 12 of 15 games within friendly confines.
Both teams had fruitless breakaway chances during the opening period. Midway through the frame, Phil McRae sped in on Joey MacDonald and took a shot that fluttered over the netminder but managed to stay out of the net. The Griffins' chance came with 6:30 left in the stanza as Allen closed the door on Francis Pare, one of the heroes of last night's dramatic 2-1 shootout win over Toronto.
With 3:02 remaining in the second period, the Griffins were awarded seven minutes of power play time after Graham Mink jumped newly recalled defenseman Sebastien Piche behind the Grand Rapids net and received two minutes for instigating, five for fighting and a game misconduct.
The Griffins carried over nearly four minutes of that power play time onto the fresh sheet of ice, but it was the Rivermen who enjoyed the best scoring chance prior to its conclusion, as Tyler Shattock broke in alone on MacDonald before clanging his shorthanded try off the left post.
The Griffins' inability to capitalize on their opportunity proved costly with 7:59 remaining. With Peoria generating pressure in the Grand Rapids zone, Dave Spina took a shot that MacDonald turned aside, but Anthony Nigro slipped the rebound past him from the right side to give the Rivermen a 1-0 lead on their 23rd shot of the night.
MacDonald, who deserved a better fate with 23 saves, departed in favor of an extra attacker with just over a minute left, and T.J. Hensick scored into the empty net with 18 seconds remaining for the final margin.
American Hockey League Stories from January 1, 2011
- Monsters Bounce Back with Shutout Win - Cleveland Monsters
- Aeros Rally in Final Minute, Beat Rampage 4-3 - Houston Aeros
- Last Minute Rally Puts Aeros over Rampage 4-3 - San Antonio Rampage
- Islanders Acquire Defenseman Ty Wishart - Bridgeport Islanders
- Manitoba Drops New Year's Day Clash with Chicago 3-2 - Manitoba Moose
- Former Amerk Spoils New Year's Celebration in Rochester - Rochester Americans
- Lightning Acquire G Dwayne Roloson From Islanders - Norfolk Admirals
- New Year, Same Result Against Rivermen - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Falcons Start 2011 With Impressive Win - Springfield Falcons
- Wolves Ring In New Year With 3-2 Win In Manitoba - Chicago Wolves
- Paetsch Paces Crunch to 4-1 Win Over Rochester - Syracuse Crunch
- Monarchs Drop New Year's Ball - Manchester Monarchs
- Bulldogs Shut out by Monsters 3-0 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Whale win over Bruins - Connecticut Whale
- Allen Opens 2011 With Fifth Shutout - Peoria Rivermen
- Greg Moore Game-Winner Extends Streak - Adirondack Phantoms
- Admirals Comeback Falls Short in 4-3 Loss to Penguins - Milwaukee Admirals
- Brust the Difference as Senators Blank Checkers, 3-0 - Charlotte Checkers
- Late Goal Downs Devils in Adirondack - Albany Devils
- Aeros Sign Jed Ortmeyer - Houston Aeros
- P-Bruins Fall to Whale 6-2 - Providence Bruins
- Game Night: Amerks, Crunch Ring in the New Year Tonight at Blue Cross Arena - Rochester Americans
- Anaheim Reassigns Defenseman John de Gray from Elmira to Syracuse - Syracuse Crunch
- Canadiens Assign Brett Festerling to Bulldogs - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Falcons Host the Monarchs Tonight - Springfield Falcons
- Omark Assigned to Oklahoma City; Belle Recalled by Edmonton - Oklahoma City Barons
- Barons Notes for December 28 - Oklahoma City Barons
- Preview: Aeros, Rampage Kick off 2011 - Houston Aeros
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