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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Pulkkinen Reaches 50 Points in 39 Games as Griffins Top Marlies

February 4, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


TORONTO - Teemu Pulkkinen scored twice and Andy Miele recorded two assists to lift the Grand Rapids Griffins over the Toronto Marlies 3-1 in a Wednesday matinee at Ricoh Coliseum.

Grand Rapids (24-17-3-1) has won three straight on the road and has allowed one goal during the road winning streak.

Toronto (18-18-8-0) scored first before Grand Rapids countered with three goals. The Marlies struck first at 2:51 of the first period when Matt Frattin skated around the top of the right circle and fired a long wrist shot over the glove of Grand Rapids goaltender Jonas Gustavsson .

That turned out to be the only blemish Gustavsson had as he turned away 30 of 31 shots in his second Griffins appearance since being assigned by the Detroit Red Wings for conditioning.

The Griffins evened the game later in the first period when Pulkkinen drove toward the net and slid a backhand shot past Marlies goaltender Christopher Gibson just outside the crease while being hooked by Tyler Biggs. Pulkkinen's 25th goal of the season at 15:37 was assisted by Miele.

The scoreless second period was controlled by the host Marlies as they outshot the Griffins 11-9 but Gustavsson made several big saves including a glove save on Frattin after Spencer Abbott dropped the puck back to Frattin to setup a one-timer.

The game appeared to head to overtime until Mark Zengerle gave the Griffins the lead with his 7th goal of the season after captain Jeff Hoggan centered the puck and Zengerle came up with it following a scramble and shot the puck between Gibson's pads at 15:16 of the third period.

Pulkkinen, the AHL's leading scorer, scored his 26th goal and 50th point of the campaign with an empty netter at 19:08 after Toronto pulled Gibson in an attempt to equalize the game. Miele assisted on the goal, which gave him 27 assists and 40 points this season.

The Griffins went scoreless on two power play opportunities and the Marlies failed to score on one power play chance.

The Griffins return to Van Andel Arena Friday at 7 pm when Rochester visits for a two-game set.

Three stars: 1. GR Gustavsson (W, 30 saves); 2. GR Pulkkinen (two goals); 3. TOR Frattin (goal)

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