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Training Camp
Griffins Dim Stars 6-3
Campbell and Terry each tally a pair of goals...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
December 1st, 2018



Grinding winger Colin Campbell notched his first two goals of the season and sniper Chris Terry (13,14) added two of his own to power the Grand Rapids Griffins over the visiting Texas Stars 6-3 on Saturday night at Van Andel Arena. The Griffins won for the 5th straight game which is impressive as this was the fourth game they played in the last six days. The Griffins special teams continue to drive the wins, as the penalty has killed off the last 24 powerplays and the man advantage unit has clicked at 17% over the same stretch (5 for 29). Dominik Shine (3) and Carter Camper (5) also scored in the win for Grand Rapids while Harri Sateri made 28 saves for his 8th win of the season.

Just two minutes in, Campbell on the forecheck broke up a long pass in the slot. The veteran winger roofed it as he fell backwards, and it went in over Bow for his 1st of the season. Campbell added his second of the game midway through the period. The puck hit Turgeon's foot and came right to Campbell in front and he didn't miss, sniping it past Bow to push the lead to 2. The Stars rallied back just over a minute later when L'Esperance knuckled the puck in over Sateri's shoulder from a bad angle to cut the lead to one. Great pass by Zadina through two defenders to Megan for what looked like a sure goal. Still not sure how Bow got back over to make that stop. Condra crossed through the crease using a Griffins player as a screen and snapped a shot through Sateri five-hole to tie the game at 2. Chris Terry all alone on the doorstep with three great chances in a row, Bow had to be stellar to make those stops. Carter Camper skated the puck behind the net, then made a slick move to lose his man and hit Terry speeding up the middle for a sick goal to restore the Griffins lead 3-2. Shots on goal: GR 14 - Tex 14.

Texas rallied back again, just over a minute into the second period, Mascherin drilled a shot past Sateri from the left circle to knot the score at three apiece. Libor Sulak went end to end, split the defense and had a great chance on Bow. Sulak regained the puck and made a nice pass to Zadina who drew a defender, made a move and then fed Terry for his second goal of the game. Sulak got behind the defense again and went in alone on Bow, but ran out of room to take the shot. Rocket from the point by Sulak found its way through traffic but Bw made the save. Very little windup but a lot of velocity on that shot. Sulak got dumped after making a pas and got feisty, taking the puck end to end again and then knocked a stars player on his butt to take the rebound away for another chance. Dylan McIlrath with a big drive from the point through traffic that got through, but hit the post. Shots on goal: GR 9 - Tex 9.

The Griffins put the game away in the third period. Elson with speed swung the puck around the end boards to terry behind the net. Terry slid it out front as Camper walked into the high slot and stroked it home for a 5-3 lead. Bow came to the bench with well over three minutes left in the game as his team pressed for two goals to send the game to overtime. Dominik Shine lifted a puck that flew the length of the ice and into the net, delivered airmail. Campbell in front during the closing seconds just missed the hat trick with a shot that hit Bow. Shots on goal: GR 7 - Tex 8. For the game: GR 30 - Tex 31.

Lines:
#73 Puempel - #22 Megan - #11 Zadina
#15 Elson - #19 Camper - #25 Terry
#54 Smith - #23 Turgeon - #45 Campbell
#28 Sadowy - #10 Holmstrom - #65 Shine


Pairings:
#4 Sulak - #52 McIlrath
#18 Lashoff - #13 Hronek
#2 Hicketts - #9 Saarijarvi

Starter: #29 Harri Sateri
Backup: #42 Patrik Rybar

Scratches:
#12 Pope
#27 Chelios
#55 Ford (Veteran Rotation)


PP:

#25 Terry - #22 Megan - #10 Holmstrom
#13 Hronek - #19 Camper

#28 Sadowy - #15 Elson - #11 Zadina
#73 Puempel - #2 Hicketts

PK:
#15 Elson - #22 Megan
#18 Lashoff - #2 Hicketts

#45 Campbell - #23 Turgeon
#13 Hronek - #4 Sulak

Observations:

Great to see Colin Campbell rewarded with some goals for all of his hard work, both of them were typical Campbell goals, his hard work on the forecheck causing turnovers, or being in the right place at the right time to take advantage of bounces.

Libor Sulak had a very good night, jumping up int he play and showing off his tremendous mobility. The stars made him mad in the second period and woke the gentle giant. He was absolutely a force tonight, and the return of Dylan McIlrath seemed to have an effect on his game as the heavyweight defender took care of things in his own end so that Sulak could be comfortable to jump up.

Zadina appears to be making a big transition in his game. The last two games I have noticed that instead of trying to beat every player on the way to the net, or trying to make the cute little moves he did in junior as he has in the early going, Zadina has been much more effective, making one nice play, drawing defenders to him and then passing the puck to a teammate to take advantage of the space. This is a major adjustment and bodes well for him. All three of his assists the last two games have been on this type of play where he has made a move to get in the circle drew the defenders and then threaded a pass through to Megan or another teammate that ended up in the net.


Official Game Sheet