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Power Outage Leads To 5-0 Loss
Grand Rapids Shut out for second straight game...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
November 19th, 2010
The Griffins normally high powered offense has been suffering from a severe power outage the last few games, as the club was shutout for the third time in the last five contests. In fact the team has only managed to score 3 goals in that span, hardly enough for a lineup boasting this much talent. Super rookie Brendan Smith led the way with five shots on goal and a couple of good scoring chances, but the Griffins had very little in the way of dangerous chances to show for 28 shots on the Aeros net. Thomas McCollum took the loss, his fifth of the campaign, turning in a mediocre outing with a couple of questionable goals.
Amadio and Kassian started wrestling in front of the net and dropped the gloves for a short bout that ended in a draw. Houston drew first blood a few minutes later, when pyett lost his man in front. DiSalvatore had an easy chip in from the edge of the paint while he cruised through the goalmouth. Tardif and Bagnall came to blows at the side of the Houston net with the Griffins captain getting the jersey over his opponents head and landing some solid punches. The first period was very chippy and tempers flared several times. The aeros had a couple of great chances at the end of the period while shorthanded, thanks to a turnover at center ice. Griffins started the period slow but came on the second half. Shots on Goal: GR 13 - Hou 7.
Houston scored a powerplay goal four minutes in on a rising point shot that was tipped in front and found it's way in under the crossbar. Amadio was slashed behind the play and couldn't get off the ice on his own. No penalty was called and Fraser was incensed on the bench. Pare high sticked McBride and then Minard stepped in to tie him up. Smith took advantage of a turnover for a full on breakaway, but the puck trickled just wide. A griffin (Raedeke?) got smoked along the boards, drawing a crowd. Mursak went after Almond who gave the young Griffin's sniper a beating. Several other minor skirmishes broke out in the pileup. The griffins ended up down by two and Mursak got a game misconduct for having his jersey untied. Big mixup at the box as someone else's penalty was given to Minard who was already in the box. They tried to resolve the discrepancy several times, but Minard had to stay in the box. When the penalty expired, Coetzee left the box and Minard stayed behind. Leech destroyed Spurgeon with a brutal hit from behind. He was down a long time and Meech got a major for checking from behind and a game misconduct, effectively killing a GR powerplay. Tardif and Andersson had a shorthanded 2-on-1, with Tardif beating Khudobin but ringing the puck off the post behind him. The Aeros made it 3-0 when a weak shot from the line got between McCollum and the post for a powerplay goal. Shots on Goal: GR 7 - Hou 12.
Noreau smoked a point shot shot on a 5-on-3 powerplay that cleanly beat McCollum high stick side, just under the bar to make it 4-0. Great move by Coetzee to beat two Aeros and slide a pass to the open man (Minard) in front of an open net. The snakebit sniper blew it just wide. The griffins take another in a steady string of penalties. Fredheim scored for Houston with just over a minute left to cap the scoring at 5-0. Shots on goal: GR 8 - Hou 11. For the Game: GR 28 - Hou 30.
Lines:
Minard - Johnson - Pare
Mursak - Emmerton - Filppula
Tatar - Andersson - Tardif
Ehrhardt - Raedeke - Coetzee
Pairings:
Kolosov - Meech
Janik - Smith
Amadio - Pyett
Starter: McCollum
Backup: Pearce
Scratches:
Straub - Personal
Lashoff
Owens - Sick
PP:
Tatar - Johnson - Minard
Pare - Meech
Mursak - Emmerton - Filppula
Pyett - Smith
Tatar - Emmerton - Coetzee
Meech - Smith
Minard - Andersson - Tardif
PK:
Andersson - Tardif
Janik - Smith
Pare - Johnson
Kolosov - Pyett
Mursak - Emmerton
Observations:
For the second game in a row, the Griffins brought a lot of energy, but really didn't generate much in the way of quality scoring chances despite the shot clock. I won't go in to the awful officiating, because as a rule I don't do that, suffice it to say tonight was subpar. Grand Rapids, however did not do itself any favors by spending so much time in the box. Undisciplined play cost them some points tonight.
I thought that Smith had a great game, he did a good job of getting the puck in the zone, and just always seems to make the right decision.
Kudos to Travis Ehrhardt who played up front tonight and did a credible job. If he can play swingman, that may raise his value and allow to stay in the lineup on a more regular basis.
Cory Emmerton had a lot of jump tonight and really did a great job, specifically while killing penalties. His intensity level has gone up a few notches since last season.
Raedeke, Coetzee and Tardif all were digging all night creating energy andmaking life miserable for Houston.
Pyett had an up and down night, but was very impressive rushing the puck up ice.
Minard was involved at both ends of the ice, and his hard work and physical play were evident.
Filppula was invisible this game as was Mursak prior to his ejection. I am also still waiting for Johnson to show something offensively.
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