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Griffins Terry Torches Monsters 4-3 in Shootout
AHL goal leader figures in all 4 Griffins goals...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
December 29th, 2018
Griffins sniper Chris Terry kept up his hot hand, scoring a goal (21) and setting up two more before scoring the game winner in the shootout to give the home team a 4-3 win in the comfy confines of Van Andel Arena. Terry moved into third place in league scoring while maintaining his hold on the number one spot on the goal scoring leaderboard. The Griffins also got goals from Carter Camper (7) and Axel Holmstrom (8) in the win. Patrik Rybar was solid in picking up his 8th win, stopping 33 shots and all three shooters he faced in the skills competition.
Givani Smith over the line with possession fired a rising shot in on Thiessen who had to make a tricky save. Long shot from the point and Terry in the circle tipped it right into Thiessen. Slick pay by Carter Camper who passed the puck to himself through a defenders feet and then went cross ice to feed Terry for a one-timer backdoor and a 1-0 lead. Less than a minute later Terry in the corner went across for For Holmstrom in nearly the identical spot as the first goal. The Swede roofed it, stick-side, to push the lead to two. Robinson in on Saarijarvi, one-on-one, but Saarijarvi did a good job to stay with him and take he play away without getting a penalty.Chelios got beat at the line allowing a two-on-one. Turgeon with his stick down on the ice took away the pass and the shot hit the goal post. Sulak swept the loose puck behind the net. Milano took a pass back door and buried it to cut the lead to one. Shots on goal: GR 13 - Cle 9.
Early Griffins powerplay and Terry clinked a shot off the crossbar. Clendening fouled Givani Smith with a head check and Dylan MCIlrath dropped the gloves an went right over. Clendening turtled and tried to get him to go before the officials separated them. Clendening had lots to say on his way back to the bench after being rescued, but drew a match penalty and got sent to the showers. The minor to McIlrath offset the first two minutes of the man-advantage and a penalty to Elson negated the last two minutes. Rybar went out to play the puck and slipped, but managed to scramble back to his crease before it became a problem. Milano flew through the crease with the puck but got upended and went flying. Rybar with a big save in close with no stick. Joe Hicketts with speed into the zone for a chance then got control again in the corner and made a sick between the legs pass while facing the boards onto the tape of Turgeon in the slot for a great scoring opportunity. Shots on goal: GR 7 - Cle 9.
Smith in the box for charging and Cleveland clinked a shot in between Rybar and the post to tie the game at two. Grand Rapids answered right back, Terry into the circle , drew the defenders, then threaded a pass through to Camper all alone in front. He sniped a shot into the top corner, glove-side to restore the lead. Gerbe tried to split the D and went head first into the end boards for his trouble. Terry in on net, cut around the defender and got taken down. The puck lay in the crease but was batted out before Grand Rapids could score. Rybar made a stop but the puck trickled through and was batted into the net after the whistle was blown. Several diving Griffins blacking shots as Cleveland furiously tried to tie the score. Grand Rapids defensive breakdown, Somerby all alone in the circle got the puck and lasered a shot past Rybar. The Griffins are out of gas and look like they are shorthanded even though they are at even strength. Shots on goal: GR 5 - Cle 16.
Overtime:
Grand Rapids with several quality chances, carrying play for most of the extra session. Cleveland had a great chance in close with 20 seconds left but Rybar came up big again. Shots on goal: GR 7 - Cle 2. For the game: GR 33 - Cle 36.
Shootout:
Camper was the first shooter for the Griffins and he shot it into Thiessen high. Letestu went for Cleveland, firing a shot on Rybar that he stopped with a big leg pad. Chris Terry blazed in and looked to shoot off his back foot, surprising Thiessen with a shot and scoring. Gerbe tried to answer for the Monsters, but missed the net wide. Dom Turgeon led off the third round, missing the net on his chance, before Sonny Milano made a nice move and forced Rybar to make a quick glove save for the win.
Lines:
#73 Puempel - #23 Turgeon - #45 Campbell
#55 Ford - #10 Holmstrom - #54 Smith
#28 Sadowy - #39 Hulak - #65 Shine
#25 Terry - #19 Camper - #15 Terry
Pairings:
#2 Hicketts - #52 McIlrath
#18 Lashoff - #9 Saarijarvi
#4 Sulak - #27 Chelios
Starter: #42 Rybar
Backup: #29 Sateri
Scratches:
#12 Pope
PP:
#55 Ford - #15 Elson - #25 Terry
#73 Puempel - #18 Lashoff
#54 Smith - #19 Camper - #10 Holmstrom
#9 Saarijarvi - #2 Hicketts
PK:
#55 Ford/#23 Turgeon - #45 Campbell
#18 Lashoff - #52 McIlrath
#15 Elson - #65 Shine/#39 Hulak
#27 Chelios - #2 Hicketts
Observations:
Grand Rapids carried play the first period, but really looked to run out of gas in the second half. They were lucky to win this one, in large part due to some incredible goaltending by Patrik Rybar to support Terry's offensive explosion. Rybar is 4th in the AHL in goals against average and has played at a higher level than you would expect from a rookie. He has been more impressive than his veteran counterpart Sateri for much of the 1st half.
With Hronek in Detroit Jake Chelios has gotten more ice time and a chance to play regularly and has been very effective defensively. He currently leads the clubs blueliner's in plus/minus and really looked at home on the penalty kill.
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