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Griffins Break Cycle in 3-1 Loss
Meech ends team scoreless streak...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
November 20th, 2010
The Griffins managed to break one streak, an epic scoreless trek that lasted 165 minutes and change. But another streak, a three game winless streak kept rolling along. Veteran blueliner Derek Meech broke the goose egg with a rocket from the line, but that was all the team managed to get by Lake Erie netminder Trevor Cann who recored his first win of the season. Jordan Pearce deserved a better fate in the Griffins net, playing a strong game in spite of the score.
Grand rapids came out of the gate with some good energy, trying to get off to a good start and get a goal. Straub and Bordeleau squared off at center ice for a very deliberate heavyweight bout halfway through the period. Unfortunately, Bordeleau gave the Griffins' enforcer a pretty decisive beat down. The griffins carried play for large parts of the period, but continue to be snakebite and unable to capitalize on several great chances. Shots on Goal: GR 12 - LE 5.
Walker scored on the rush to open the second period, putting Lake Erie on the board. Pearce made a huge save to keep it a one goal game. Meech finally got the monkey off the team's back, stroking a shot from the low slot past Can to tie the game. Three minutes later there is a scramble in front of Pearce, several bodies creating traffic. Walters pounces on the loose puck and slides it through several legs to restore the one goal lead. Shots on Goal: GR 11 - LE 12.
Pearce came up big again while shorthanded when Kolosov and Meech got tied up behind the net and let two monsters go to the front with the puck. The big goaltender help his ground, taking away the bottom of the net and kept the puck out. The Monsters eventually made it three one on a broken play that went in the net off a Griffins player. The Monsters ended up with a 2-on-1 from center ice. Pearce made the save only to have Janik put it in his own net. The Griffins had several great chances but couldn't get another one, falling 3-1. Shots on goal: GR 10 - LE 9. For the Game: GR 33 - LE 26.
Lines:
Minard - Emmerton - Tardif
Tatar - Johnson - Pare
Owens - Raedeke - Straub
Mursak - Andersson - Filppula
Pairings:
Kolosov - Meech
Janik - Smith
Amadio - Pyett
Starter: Pearce
Backup: McCollum
Scratches:
Ehrhardt
Lashoff
Coetzee
PP:
Mursak - Andersson - Filppula
Pare - Meech
Minard - Emmerton - Tardif/Mursak
Pyett/Janik - Smith
Tardif - Johnson - Filppula
PK:
Emmerton - Tardif
Amadio - Pyett
Pare - Johnson
Kolosov - Meech
Owens - Raedeke
Observations:
The Griffins looked much better tonight than they did yesterday, but unfortunately the result was the same. Jordan Pearce looked strong and confident in the net, and made some top notch saves. A couple of the goals were completely outside his control, and the team looked comfortable in front of him.
Emmerton had a good night in the face-off circle and appears committed to being an impact player.
Mursak looked comfortable separated from Emmerton. He did some great work along the boards, protecting the puck and keeping the play alive.
Brent Raedeke stood out, especially on the backcheck, where he used his strong skating to hound the Monsters.
I thought Amadio played a strong game, and I can see him leading the young defenseman, both verbally and by example. Every team needs an old warhorse.
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