AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Williams, Griffins Blast Ducks, 5-2

Published on February 14, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids, Mich. - Another two-goal performance by Jason Williams, along with three-assist efforts from both Tomas Kopecky and Travis Richards, powered the Griffins to a 5-2 victory over the Mighty Ducks on Friday at Van Andel Arena.

Williams scored the game's final goal from in close during a power play at 7:40 of the third period, giving the former Duck the second most prolific goal-scoring run in Griffins history, with 10 in his last seven contests. Only Kip Miller, who scored 10 goals in a six-game span that began exactly two years ago (Feb. 14-23, 2001), enjoyed a more productive stretch.

Two nights after Michel Picard became the first Griffin to accumulate 300 points, Richards took his place as the second to reach the 200-point plateau with his second assist of the evening.

The Griffins (31-14-8-2), who closed their gap behind conference-leading Houston to five points while widening their Central Division lead to 19 points, will now hit the road for games at Rochester on Sunday and Syracuse on Monday.

Grand Rapids jumped out to a 2-0 lead on first period goals by Mark Mowers and Williams. During a goal-mouth scramble, Mowers notched his team-leading 23rd of the season against J.F. Damphousse from the right side at 9:04.

Less than five minutes later, Derek King stole the puck behind the Cincinnati net and dished it out front to Kopecky, who found Williams wide open to the left of the crease at 13:50.

The Ducks cut the lead to one at 19:01 of the period, when Jonathan Hedstrom burst ahead of the Griffins' defense and roofed a backhand shot by Marc Lamothe. Just 3:23 into the second frame, Cincinnati netted the equalizer off the stick of Cam Severson, who lunged to tip the puck past the Griffins' netminder.

The deadlock was short-lived, however, as Hugo Boisvert redirected a Rob Collins shot from the doorstep during a power play at 11:13. Richards reached the 200-point milestone with an assist on the goal, the fifth in the last five games for Boisvert. Derek King then pushed the lead back to two goals with an unassisted tally from the right circle at 14:48.

Lamothe, who has appeared in each of the Griffins' last nine games, made 17 saves to earn his AHL-high 21st victory, while Damphousse sustained the loss with 26 stops. Lamothe now stands one win shy of his personal best, set last season.

Cincinnati dropped to 15-23-10-4 with the defeat and fell 28 points behind the Griffins in the Central Division standings. Grand Rapids is now unbeaten against the Ducks in seven games overall this season (6-0-1-0) and in seven all-time meetings at home (5-0-2-0).

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American Hockey League Stories from February 14, 2003


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