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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Rockford Holds on for 2-1 Win Over Griffins

December 4, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Despite outshooting the Rockford IceHogs by a 34-18 margin, the Grand Rapids Griffins suffered their fourth loss in the last five games on Friday, a 2-1 decision at Van Andel Arena.

Grand Rapids outshot Rockford 15-3 over the final 20 minutes and appeared to tie the game 2-2 midway through the third period, but Tomas Tatar's goal was waved off by the referee, who whistled the play dead prior to the puck crossing the goal line.

The Griffins (13-9-0-0), who began a five-game homestand with their third one-goal loss in the last 10 days, will try to right their ship when they host the Peoria Rivermen on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Former Griffin Mark Cullen tallied the game's first goal during a four-on-four 9:04 into the opening period. Cullen beat his man down the slot, took a pass from Kyle Greentree out of the right corner and potted a shot into Thomas McCollum's gaping cage.

Less than four minutes later, and only five seconds after a Grand Rapids power play had expired, Jamie Tardif knotted the score at one, crashing the crease to bang home the rebound of Kris Newbury's shot past Alec Richards at 12:49.

Just 2:05 into the second period, the IceHogs received an early Christmas gift in the form of a turnover deep in the Griffins' zone. A clearing pass from a Grand Rapids defenseman landed on the stick of Rockford's Evan Brophey in the high slot, and after McCollum sprawled to make the initial save, Brophey followed up to convert his own rebound and give Rockford the 2-1 lead that they would maintain over the final 38 minutes.

Richards, who is 5-1-3 with a 2.78 GAA and a 0.909 save percentage in nine appearances with the ECHL's Toledo Walleye this season, improved his record against the Griffins to 2-0 with a 2.01 GAA and a 0.938 save percentage, with both wins coming over the last two Fridays at Van Andel Arena.

McCollum deserved a better fate, taking the loss in a 16-save effort.

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