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Training Camp
Better Late Than Never As Miele Leads Late Rally Over Admirals
Veteran center notches three points in 4-3 OT win...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
February 18th, 2015

The Griffins had plenty of excuses to drop a home contest to the division leading Milwaukee Admirals on Wednesday night. With several key players out of the lineup including the AHL's leading scorer, Teemu Pulkkinen (NHL Recall), the teams' third leading scorer, Mitch Callahan (knee surgery), and second line center Tomas Nosek (Concussion), the team was in need of someone to step up. Enter savvy veteran Andy Miele who notched the game tying goal with .4 seconds left in the contest and then the overtime game-winner to give the home team a 4-3 win. This kept the Griffins streak alive with a record of 5-0-2-0 in their last seven. Netminder Jared Coreau kept up his hot hand making 25 saves for his 13th win of the campaign.

Newly recalled Martin Frk opened the scoring early when he took a feed from Mark Zengerle and ripped a rocket from the circle over the shoulder of Hellberg, stick-side. Quite a celebration followed his second AHL goal of the season. Frk very tenacious around the net, taking a beating to create chances before finally drawing a penalty and setting up a Griffins powerplay. Veteran defender Brennan Evans is missing from the Griffins bench since very early in the period leaving the team with five blueliners. Big stop by Coreau, flashing the glove to take a dangerous looking low shot from close in. Milwaukee finally got on the board late in the period on a great second effort by Clune who picked up his own rebound and chipped in it over Coreau who was still down from the original stop. Shots on goal: GR 13 - Mil 10.

The Admirals took their first lead of the game about five minutes into the second when Sissons tipped a point shot by Noonan through Coreau. Zengerle boarded Grant in front of the Griffins players bench which drew a crowd. As the players pushed and shoved, Bruton reached out form the bench and started an altercation with Grant leading to an extra GR penalty. Milwaukee in control for most of the period as the Griffins are really back on their heals. Later in the period Nathan Paetsch went D to D and slid a pass across the line to Kindl who fired a low shot past Hellberg, stick-side for his first AHL goal of the season. Milwaukee got it right back when Kindl lost his man by the net and he fired a bad angle shot between Coreau and the post for a 3-2 lead. Shots on goal: GR 6 - Mil 13.

Ouellet had a couple of hard, heavy point shots that hit Admirals players and bounced right back to him. Lashoff circled the net and centered for Tvrdon for a great chance back door. Beautiful pass by Kindl between a defenders feet and onto the tape of a rushing Ferraro in the slot for a great chance. Aubry with speed up the middle had a drive but Hellberg stopped it. Great play by Athanasiou on the backcheck to steal the puck off a Milwaukee forwards stick. Mantha showed a glimmer of his potential when he picked the puck up on the blade of his stick and bounced it over the defender at the line, blew by him, and gloved it to his stick for a great scoring chance. Coreau went to the Griffins bench for the extra skater with a minute and change left in the game. Hoggan broke in up the middle and was taken down, setting up a Griffins 6-on-4 with 28.6 seconds left on the clock. Mad scramble in front in the dying seconds and Porter got the puck to Miele at the edge of the circle. Miele buried it with .4 seconds left in the period to send the game to overtime. Shots on goal: GR 15 - Mil 3.

Overtime:
Tvrdon cut in on net and dished to Kindl, but the veteran defenseman blew it over the net. Athanasiou turned on the burners, flew in from the circle and lifted a bad-angle shot over the net. Miele gave the puck to Ouellet who carried it in along the boards and then center to Miele who batted the puck out of midair and past Hellberg for the gamewinner. Shots on Goal: GR 2 - Mil 2. For the Game: GR 36 - Mil 28.

Lines:
Frk/Tvrdon - Miele - Zengerle
Hoggan/Frk - Athanasiou - Mantha
Tvrdon/Hoggan - Porter - Ferraro
Bruton - Aubry - Campbell


Pairings:
Lashoff - Jensen
Evans - #5 Kindl
Paetsch - Ouellet

Starter: Coreau
Backup: Mrazek

Scratches:
Callahan - ACL - Out for season
Nosek - Concussion
McCollum
Sproul
Czarnowczan
Bonis


PP:
Hoggan - Miele - Frk
Paetsch - Zengerle

Mantha - Porter - Ferraro
Tvrdon - Kindl


PK:
Porter - Ferraro
Paetsch - Kindl

Zengerle - Miele
Lashoff - Ouellet

Observations:

Martin Frk took advantage of some time on the top line and the first powerplay unit, and really played a strong game. He was very energized and seemed to be everywhere at once. Much improved in the skating department and kept his feet moving. Later in the game he saw some time with Athanasiou and Mantha, and the "kid" line skated circles around the Admirals, really causing havoc.

Jared Coreau turned in another strong performance. He made some big stops and looked confident in net. It is going to be a tough choice for the team to decide who plays, but McCollum may find himself on the outside looking in.

Evans left the game two minutes i with a "lower-body injury", and no word on the severity.


Official Game Sheet