Two-Goal First Period Stands Up For Griffins
Published on December 5, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (December 5, 2009) - The Grand Rapids Griffins scored twice in the first nine minutes of the game and held on to beat the Peoria Rivermen 4-1 at Van Andel Arena on Saturday. Hannu Toivonen made 37 saves before the Griffins scored two empty-net goals in the final two minutes to secure the win.
The Rivermen fell to 0-3-0 against Grand Rapids and have been limited to just a single goal in all three meetings. Adam Cracknell, who scored the only goal for the Rivermen in their 2-1 loss to the Griffins last Saturday, accounted for the loan goal against the Griffins.
Grand Rapids jumped all over the Rivermen in the first period, as they outshot Peoria 20-7 in the frame and built a 2-0 lead. Jan Mursak converted on a turnover at 2:31 for his seventh of the season. The Griffins used their top-ranked power play to expand their lead when Patrick Rissmiller slipped a rebound shot past Toivonen at 9:01 for his fifth of the year. The 20 shots allowed by the Rivermen was the most in a single period this season and also the most shots taken in a frame by Grand Rapids.
Cracknell's goal came at 11:10 of the second period to cut the Griffins lead in half. Mitch Love lost the puck in a one-on-one rush and it rolled onto the stick of Cracknell, who was trailing the play. His snapshot beat Daniel Larsson under the glove but proved to be the only one of Peoria's 24 shots that went through the Swedish netminder.
Toivonen matched Larsson save for save in the final 40 minutes and held Peoria in the game. His efforts improved were recognized as the No. 3 star of the game. In his last three starts, Toivonen is just 1-2-0 but has a goals-against average of 1.68 and a save percentage of.947.
With just under two minutes to play, Davis Payne pulled Toivonen for the extra attacker but Mattias Ritolla (18:29) and Tomas Tatar (19:14) both found the empty net from their own end expand the score of the tight game.
The road trip continues on Wednesday for the Rivermen as they head to Texas to face the Stars at 7:30 p.m. It will be their first trip to Cedar Park Center and their second meeting with the Stars who they beat 5-4 on Nov. 11.
They will play on Friday in Houston before returning home on Dec. 12 to take on San Antonio for the annual Teddy Bear Toss. Tickets are available at the Rivermen office by calling 309-676-1040 or online at www.rivermen.net/tickets. All games can be heard live on Hippie Radio 101.1 FM.
American Hockey League Stories from December 5, 2009
- Teddy Bears Fly Early, Hogs Pick Up Fifth Straight - Rockford IceHogs
- Scorching Heat Is Too Much For Amerks In 6-2 Loss - Rochester Americans
- Heat Bomb Americans 6-2 - Abbotsford Heat
- Four Goal Third Period Lifts Sound Tigers Over Falcons, 7-3 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Wolves Fall To Stars, 5-3 - Chicago Wolves
- Admirals Double Moose, 4-2 - Manitoba Moose
- Stars Shoot Past Wolves 5-3 - Texas Stars
- Falcons Lose To Sound Tigers 7-3 - Springfield Falcons
- Westgarth Fillets Sharks - Manchester Monarchs
- Crunch Solve Senators - Syracuse Crunch
- Two-Goal First Period Stands Up For Griffins - Peoria Rivermen
- B-Sens Fall Short In Syracuse; Lose 3-2 - Binghamton Senators
- River Rats Topple Phantoms 4-1 - Adirondack Phantoms
- Penguins Outscore Wolf Pack 4-1 - Connecticut Whale
- Sharks Tie Score Late But Fall In 8th Round Of Shootout In Manchester - Worcester Sharks
- Griffins Roll Over Rivermen, 4-1 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Rats Oust Phantoms 4-1 - Albany River Rats
- Admirals Can't Bear Hershey Comeback - Norfolk Admirals
- P-Bruins Defeat Pirates 4-3 - Providence Bruins
- Bruins Nip Pirates To End Streak - Portland Pirates
- Bulldogs Drop 6-5 Overtime Decision To Marlies - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Columbus Assigns Left Wing Alexandre Picard - Syracuse Crunch
- Heat Vs Americans Preview - Carpentier Reassigned - Abbotsford Heat
- Capitals Claim Chris Bourque Off Waivers From Pittsburgh - Hershey Bears
- Richards Loaned To Toledo, Hogs Face Lake Erie Tonight - Rockford IceHogs
- Canadiens Assign Ryan White To Bulldogs - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Falcons Sign Chris Armstrong To AHL Contract - Springfield Falcons
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