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Coreau Blanks IceHogs 3-0
Louis-Marc Aubry nets first goal of the season...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
November 11, 2016
Missing several key players from the lineup including sniper Anthony Mantha, power forward Eric Tangradi and sparkplug Tyler Bertuzzi, the Grand Rapids Griffins already had several excuses to drop a game to the visiting Rockford IceHogs. The problem was no one told that to the Griffins as they scored early and often including Louis-Marc Aubry's first tally of the season to hand the IceHogs a 3-0 defeat at Van Andel Arena. Kyle Criscuolo and Matt Lorito also tallied in the win. Netminder Jared Coreau was stellar making 30 saves including several of the dangerous variety to notch his league leading 7th win of the season and first shutout.
Rockford's DeSousa got behind the defense but Jensen got back just enough to take away the big shot. Lots of pressure by the IceHogs and low possession time by the Griffins. Hicketts stood up Mashinter at the line with a big hit. Tomas Nosek with a steal and then went deep into the zone before hitting Frk with a sick pass through traffic for a great chance in front. Huge drive from the point, but Hicketts went down to block it and the rebound went right to Aubry who went end to end. Aubry battling in the corner came out with the puck and then watched his centering pass redirect into the net off the defenseman's skate for a 1-0 lead and his first of the season. Shots on goal: GR 11 - Rock 13.
Another great defensive play by Hicketts in front to use his body to take the whole side of the net away for an IceHog trying to creep in from the circle. Tempers flared with a big scrum after the whistle in front of Carruth. The Aubry line creating havoc in the Rockford zone, stealing the puck and then cycling it. Campbell on the doorstep just missed on a feed from Aubry. Criscuolo went to the net and punched in a powerplay goal to take a 2-0 lead. 2-on-1 Rockford and a huge save by Coreau to keep things scoreless. Shots on goal: GR 17 - Rock 13.
Hicketts with a big shot block and directed the puck to Criscuolo for an end to end breakaway but the speedy forward fired it into Carruth. Frk chasing the puck into the offensive zone knocked an IceHogs blueliner to the ice to get around him. Sadowy banging in front of the net and got cross-checked to his knees, but somehow went off for slashing, negating a Griffins powerplay. later in the period, Sadowy with a breakaway in on Carruth but ran out of room and couldn't sneak a shot through. Street, Lorito and Callahan, nice passing play. Street cross Ice to Callahan who drew the defenders to him and then feathered a pass to Lorito coming up the slot for a goal. Frk got cranked along the boards and was down for awhile before rejoining play. Mashinter with the hit and and a couple more while he was down, but no call. Russo put a shot on net after the whistle, drawing a crowd. Labrie roughed him up a bit trying to get him to drop the gloves, then got sent to the showers. Frk with a couple of big shots on the ensuing powerplay. Then Dowell was sent to the box, making it a 5-on-3. Frantic scramble in front of the Rockford cage in the dying seconds, but Carruth stops Campbell. Grand Rapids takes a 3-0 win with Coreau earning the shutout. Shots on goal: GR 14 - Rock 4. For the game: Gr 42 - Rock 30.
Lines:
Frk - Nosek- Criscuolo
Callahan - Street - Lorito
Svechnikov - Aubry - Campbell
Sadowy- Turgeon - Borkowski
Pairings:
Paetsch - Russo
Lashoff - Jensen
Hicketts - Renouf
Starter: Coreau
Backup: Pasquale
Scratches:
#11 Cleary - Veteran
#26 Tangradi - Hand
#44 Allen
#55 Ford - Muscle strain
PP:
Callahan - Nosek - Lorito
Frk - Street
Sadowy - Svechnikov - Criscuolo
Hicketts - Russo
PK:
Aubry- Campbell
Lashoff - Jensen
Nosek - Street
Hicketts - Renouf
Observations:
Jared Coreau had a great outing, stopping everything the IceHogs could throw at him, and looking very confident. The ace netminder sits atop the AHL with 7 wins.
Joe Hicketts with another solid game. He was very involved physically, and sacrificed the body to block shots all night.
Dan Renouf also looked very good, especially on the PK using his size and reach to take away chances.
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