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Marlies Double Up Griffins 4-2
Tough night by McCollum leads to loss...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
April 6th, 2012

The Griffins got on the board early, with Minard notching his 21st just 41 seconds into the game. Unfortunately they spent the rest of the night watching the red light go on behind their own goalie, falling to the Marlies 4-2. McCollum had an off night between the pipes for the griffins stopping 23 of 27 shots in the loss. Tomas Tatar had the other Griffins goal, his 20th of the season, giving the Griffins 5 20 goal scorers this season.

Frankie Pare was honored before the game for being the team's AHL man of the year. It didn't take very long for the Griffins to open the scoring. Minard opened the scoring 41 seconds in, taking a pretty feed from Jamie Johnson, cutting in front of the net and backhanding it past an outstretched Rynnas. The lead was short-lived as Exelby coasted towards the goal and backed over McCollum leaving a wide open net for Kadri who buried it. Hamilton batted at a loose puck and it trickled through McCollum for a 2-1 lead. Thomas and Broll came to blows at center ice directly after a face-off. Thomas took a couple of good licks before stunning Broll with a late flurry. Shots on goal: GR 13 - Tor 11.

McCollum got caught way out of the net just 51 seconds in, giving Dupuis an easy tap in to extend the lead to two. Tatar got a hold of an Andersson pass in the circle and ripped a shot past Rynnas before he could react. He then had a jubilant celebration for his 20th of the campaign. Later in the period, the Marlies D'Amico was awarded a bogus penalty shot, but McCollum somehow kept it out to keep the game close. Shots on goal: GR 10 - Tor 11.

Deschamps snuck a weak shot in under McCollum midway through the third to restore the two-goal lead. It looked like Tatar had brought the Griffins within one a few minutes later, but it was called off because of a high stick. The Marlies were called for a penalty with 1:25 left on the clock and Grand Rapids pulled McCollum for a 6-on-4. Another Marlies penalty set up a 6-on-3, but the Griffins couldn't get it in the net and fall 4-2. Shots on goal: GR 12 - Tor 5. For the Game: GR 35 - Tor 27.

Lines:
Conner - Johnson - Minard
Tatar - Andersson - Pare
Brunnstrom - Raedeke - Coetzee
Thomas - Aubry - Nestrasil

Pairings:
Exelby - Smith
Janik - Pyett
Lashoff - Ehrhardt

Starter: McCollum
Backup: Pearce

Scratches:
Parkes - Injured
Tvrdon
Callahan
Quine
Ferraro
Nedomlel
Almqvist
Fornier
Rufenach

PP:
Tatar - Andersson - Pare
Brunnstrom - Smith

Minard - Johnson - Conner
Janik - Pyett


PK:
Andersson - Pare
Exelby - Ehrhardt/Smith

Conner - Brunnstrom
Janik - Pyett

Minard - Johnson
Observations:

McCollum turned in a stinker and gave up some softies, contributing to the loss. The team didn't seem very energized, but looked deflated by a couple of the scores. Aubry in particular seemed mad at his teammate's gaffes (Pyett) and tried to break his stick over the endboards.

Nice to see Tatar reach the 20-goal mark. He has been playing well as of late and has really upped his intensity level. He also looks to have found another gear in his skating, which has served him well.

His line with Andersson and Pare was very active tonight and all looked good. Can't figure out why pare isn't scoring, he is generating a ton of chances; they are just not going in.

Nice to see Brunnstrom back in the lineup, he is so good at getting the puck out of harms way and setting up the attack.


Official Game Sheet