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Griffins Bury Barons 5-2
Sheahan keys 5-goal surge in second...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
January 4th, 2013
The Grand Rapids Griffins sent a message to the Barons that they had some players who could put the puck in the net just as well as the group of NHL'ers weathering the lockout in Oklahoma City. New number one center Riley Sheahan led the way with two goals and an assist, while Brendan Smith added a trio of assists as the Griffins scored five straight goals in the second period to break open the game. Rookie Petr Mrazek made 17 saves for his 12th win in 15 contests. Hoggan (4), Paetsch (2) and Ferraro (11) also scored in the win.
Grant and Parkes, playing together on an energy line, were banging everything in a Barons sweater early in the period. Oklahoma City opened the scoring midway through the first, when Lander wristed a shot from the high slot that Mrazek had no chance on. The Griffins penalty killers did a great job killing off a Barons powerplay and keeping their Nhl'ers without a shot on goal. Shots on Goal: GR 3 - OKC 2.
Early in the second, Hoggan cruised through the slot, picked up the rebound of a Glendening shot and whipped a shot back against the grain past Danis low stick-side to even the score at one. Paetsch took a pass and crept up into the circle before letting a rising shot go that beat Danis high for a 2-1 lead. The Griffins made it 3-1 a minute later. Tatar made a slick spin around behind the back pass to Sheahan cutting up the gut. He kicked it to his stick and smoked it past Danis low glove side. Time out Oklahoma City. Mrazek stoned Byers on a breakaway. Nice two-on-one with Tatar and Nyquist ended with Deck knocking his own goalie down. Sheahan was denied on a shorthanded breakaway. Ferraro followed up with one if his own but fired it in over Danis stick side. Callahan dumped a Barons player behind the play and ended up in the box. Paajarvi ran Mrazek, touching off a scrum and another GR powerplay. Sheahan right off the face off took a pass at the side of the net and tucked it home for a powerplay goal. Two more dangerous chances in front for Nyquist and Tatar. Shots on Goal: GR 16 - OKC 7.
The Barons started Olivier Roy for the third period, keeping Danis on the bench. Almquist turned over the puck to Arcobello in front of Mrazek, but he managed to make the save. Nyquist tried a spin-o-rama move in front of Roy that almost snuck a shot through. Eberle took a back door pass on the powerplay and Schultz converted the rebound to close out the scoring on a 5-2 Griffins victory. Shots on Goal: GR 8 - OKC 10. For the Game: GR 27 - OKC 19.
Lines:
Tatar - Sheahan - Nyquist
Parkes/Callahan - Aubry - Jurco
Grant - Raedeke - Parkes
Hoggan - Glendening - Ferraro
Pairings:
Paetsch - Smith
Evans - Billins
Almquist - Lashoff
Starter: Mrazek
Backup: McCollum
Scratches:
Pare - injured
Andersson - injured
PP:
Tatar - Sheahan - Nyquist
Billins - Smith
Aubry - Ferraro - Jurco
Paetsch - Almquist
PK:
Ferraro - Sheahan
Lashoff - Evans
Callahan - Ferraro
Paetsch - Smith/Billins
Glendening/Raedeke - Aubry
Observations:
Another great game by Sheahan, scoring two goals and an assist. He really has looked good the last stretch and is a great fit between Tatar and Nyquist.
Smith also played one of his best this year. He seemed to have a lot of jump and played with a purpose.
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