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Griffins Edge Houston 4-2 - Take 2-1 Series Lead
Almquist nets game winner late in the third...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
May 1st, 2013
Rookie blueliner Adam Almquist scored a big goal late in the third, weaving in and out of bodies and around diving defenseman to get a low shot loose in the slot that beat Aeros netminder Condon to break a 2-2 tie. The goal turned out to be the game winner on a 4-2 Griffins victory that was much closer than the final score would indicate. After outplaying Houston for most of the first period, a turnover with just 9 seconds left allowed the Aeros to leave the first with a 1-0 lead. Captain Jeff Hoggan was the beneficiary of some great work by Jurco and knotted the score at one early in the second. Teemu Pulkkinen scored his first AHL goal later in the period to give the Griffins their first lead, but just a minute and twenty seconds later McIntyre tied things up again. Luke Glendening scored an empty netter to give Grand Rapids the final margin of victory. Netminder Petr Mrazek made 25 saves in the win.
Lines:
Grant - Aubry - Pulkkinen
Hoggan - Glendening - Mursak
Tatar - Sheahan - Pare/Pulkkinen
Jurco - Ferraro - Callahan/Sheahan/Tatar
Pairings:
Paetsch - Almquist
Evans - Billins
Skinner - Fournier
Starter: Mrazek
Backup: McCollum
Scratches:
Coetzee
Sproul
Nedomlel
Raedeke
Nicastro
Parkes
Nestrasil
Pearce
PP:
Pare - Sheahan - Tatar
Skinner - Billins
Jurco - Ferraro - Hoggan
Paetsch - Almquist
PK:
Mursak - Glendening
Evans - Billins
Ferraro - Sheahan
Almquist - Paetsch
Observations:
I apologize in advance, circumstances beyond my control precluded me from taking a full set of notes, hence the abbreviated report.
Callahan did not see much ice in the second and absent from the bench in the third, no word on his disposition.
Teemu Pulkkinen had a big game, and was very involved and dangerous. He is not afraid to get his nose dirty and goes to the net with authority. he could be a wildcard in this playoff run if he keeps playing like this.
Frankie Pare is stone cold and slumping. He really did not look good most of the night and had no puck luck. I lost count of the number of times he made a bad pass or the puck just bounced wrong and ended up going the other way. He either needs to find his confidence again, or should be moved to another line as he did not help Tatar and Sheahan much.
The Almquist goal was a thing of beauty, he just showed off his sick skill and unbelievable effort to keep the play on and find openings before firing a shot into the cage.
While not necessarily known for it, Grant made a great pass to set up Pulkkinen's tally. His line was effective tonight, providing energy, offense, and at times a physical presence as they did throw some big hits.
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