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Griffins Ice IceHogs 4-1
Campbell's first goal stands as game-winner...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
March 29th, 2014
Grand Rapids thumped the visiting Rockford IceHogs 4-1 before a sellout crowd at Van Andel Arena last night. The Griffins rallied back from a 0-1 deficit to score four unanswered goals for a convincing win. Mitch Callahan had a goal and an assist to pace the Griffins while Adam Almquist and Andrej Nestrasil each added two assists. Petr Mrazek stopped 22 of 23 shot for the win, his 20th of the season.
The first period was pretty even with neither team showing an advantage, and a lot of play in the neutral zone. Sproul broke up a dangerous 2-on-1 chance with a diving poke-check. The Griffins had a nice steal in the corner to set up Paetsch in front, but LaBarbera made the save. Rockford had a couple of great chances late in the period on the powerplay, but GR's penalty killers were up to the task to keep the game scoreless. Shots on Goal: GR 9 - Rock 9.
The Griffins had a little more jump to start the second and had a couple of good chances in close early. Mrazek made a couple of great saves first on Nordstrom shorthanded and then on Mills in the slot. The Griffins first powerplay of the night did not generate many chances, the two most dangerous were probably the Rockford shorthanded chances. Things starting to get rough as a big scrum breaks out in front of Mrazek after the whistle. The IceHogs finally solved Mrazek with Broadhurst redirecting a long shot in front that just found room over Mrazek's shoulder, clinking in off the crossbar for a 1-0 lead. Pulkkinen's powerplay slapper stung McNeill who went down and tried to hobble back into the play. Emmerton fired a shot from the circle with Callahan in front screening, and the puck hit Cally on the way in for a powerplay goal. Late in the period, Nestrasil made a nice play to get the puck to Almquist at the point through traffic. Almquist put a shot on net that hit Campbell's stick in front and redirected between LaBarbera's legs for his first career goal. Shots on Goal: GR 10 - Rock 8.
The Griffins had a 2-on-1 with Emmerton and Callahan, but Emmerton shot it wide. Tootoo got the puck in the corner and sniped a shot, short-side from the goal line past LaBarbera for a 3-1 lead. It seemed like the Griffins flipped a light switch as they took control and carried play for the rest of the period. Nestrasil picked Ross' pocket in front, breaking up what would have been a tremendous scoring opportunity. The IceHogs could not get anything past the Griffins in the neutral zone. Great play by Callahan to hang on to the puck while getting checked. He got the puck to Pulkkinen right in front for an easy score and a 4-1 lead. In the dying seconds Brisebois went after Campbell in a short grappling match. Shots on Goal: GR 10 - Rock 6. For the Game: GR 29 - Rock 23.
Lines:
Pulkkinen - Emmerton - Callahan
Hoggan - McIntyre - Tootoo
Frk - Nestrasil - Ferraro
Fournier - Aubry - #32 Campbell
Pairings:
Paetsch - Almquist
Evans - Sproul
Jensen - Ouellet
Starter: Mrazek
Backup: McCollum
Scratches:
Grant
Parkes
Hirschfeld
McNulty
Nicastro
Marchenko - Ankle Injury - out for season
PP:
Pulkkinen - Emmerton - Callahan
Paetsch - Sproul
Frk - Ferraro - Nestrasil
Jensen - Almquist
PK:
Callahan - Emmerton
Paetsch - Almquist
McIntyre - Ferraro
Evans - Ouellet
Observations:
Andrej Nestrasil has been on fire as of late with 11 points in his last 7 games. Just shows the depth this team has when a guy who couldn't earn a regular spot in the lineup at the beginning of the season has become one of our biggest offensive threats.
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