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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Rochester Snaps Griffins' Streaks With 3-1 Win

November 14, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - In a battle between the two hottest teams in the AHL on Saturday, the Rochester Americans ended the Grand Rapids Griffins' nine-game winning streak and became the first visiting team to leave Van Andel Arena with a victory this season, skating to a 3-1 triumph.

Rookie netminder Alexander Salak came within 41.8 seconds of shutting-out the Griffins and improved to 10-1 for the league-leading Americans (13-2-1-0), who rebounded from a 6-3 loss to Portland on Thursday that ended their AHL-high 11-game winning streak.

The Griffins (10-5-0-0), who suffered their first loss since Oct. 18 and their first blemish on a sparkling 8-1 home record, will play their 10th home contest in a span of 11 games next Friday, Nov. 20, when they host the Texas Stars at 7 p.m.

The Americans capitalized on both of their power play chances during the first period to take a 2-0 lead to the locker room. Matt Duffy's shot from the high slot deflected off a Griffins defender and trickled through Thomas McCollum's pads at 13:24, and Jamie Johnson settled a bouncing puck at the left hashmarks and quickly found the back of the net just 3:18 later.

Rochester increased its advantage to three at 14:24 of the second period. Only 10 seconds after a Griffins penalty expired, Jordan Henry's shot from the left point sailed through a sea of bodies out front, giving Grand Rapids its first three-goal deficit on home ice this season.

Grand Rapids, which was in danger of ending a home game with a zero on the scoreboard for the first time since a 1-0 loss to Hamilton on Dec. 31, 2007, averted the shutout in the final minute when Logan Pyett beat Salak from the left circle.

McCollum, who finished with 17 saves, saw his four-game winning streak snapped.




American Hockey League Stories from November 14, 2009


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