AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Williams Sets Record in 4-3 Win

Published on February 17, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Syracuse, NY - Jason Williams scored twice to set a franchise record for goal-scoring proficiency and the Griffins escaped snowy New York state with their fourth consecutive win on Monday night, a 4-3 decision over the Syracuse Crunch at the War Memorial at Oncenter.

Williams' two goals during the second period broke open a tie game and gave him 12 since Jan. 31, breaking a Griffins record for goals over a nine-game span. In addition, Marc Lamothe made 25 saves to increase his league-leading win total to 23 and surpass his previous personal best of 22 victories, established last year with Hamilton.

The Griffins (33-14-8-2), who have opened up an all-time high 21-point lead atop the Central Division, will return to Van Andel Arena this weekend for games Friday against Cleveland and Saturday versus Utah.

Grand Rapids scored twice in the game's first four minutes. A Philippe Plante shot from the point was deflected by a Crunch defenseman 30 feet out from the net, but the puck fluttered over the glove of Karl Goehring at the 2:26 mark. Just 1:19 later, Ryan Barnes took a feed from Darryl Bootland, skated out front and slipped a backhand through Goehring's pads for a 2-0 advantage.

Syracuse would fight to tie the score before the intermission. Defenseman Paul Traynor beat Lamothe in close at 13:15, and his blast from the point at 16:53 was tipped by Kent McDonell, finding its way through a sea of bodies and inside the right post for a power play tally.

Williams rebuilt the Griffins' two-goal advantage during the middle frame with help from Tomas Kopecky. Williams took a lead pass from his linemate, skated in on a breakaway, deked Goehring and backhanded a shot that hit the right goal post and trickled across the line at 14:35. Ninety five seconds later, after Kopecky forced a turnover and swept the puck into the high slot, Williams swooped in to fire a rocket past the helpless netminder at 16:10.

Syracuse (16-31-6-3) pulled to within one on Mathieu Darche's goal at 14:02 of the third, but the Crunch could not net the equalizer.

Williams' accomplishment mothballed the previous efforts of Kip Miller and Michel Picard, each of whom tallied 11 goals over nine-game spans during the 2000-01 and 1996-97 seasons, respectively.

The Griffins, who moved within five points of idle Houston for the overall Western Conference lead, won for the 11th time in their last 15 road contests (11-2-2-0) and improved to 17-4-3-2 overall away from home.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 17, 2003


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