Griffins Roast IceHogs in 6-1 Shelling

After losing on Friday to the Checker, the Griffins had something to prove and took it out on the visiting Rockford IceHogs. The home team scored early and often, pumping in 6 goals on 33 shots. Ben Street (2+1=3) and Tomas Nosek (1+2=3) led the way for Grand Rapids, who also got goals from Kyle Criscuolo (10th), Martin Frk (11th) and Mitch Callahan (10th). Cal Heeter played perhaps his best game of the season, turning aside 28 of 29 shots including a couple of spectacular saves on the penalty kill.

The Griffins got off to a quick start, notching an early powerplay goal with Labrie in the box for interference. Street fired a point shot that hit a body in front and ended up in the net behind Carruth. A couple minutes later, Street upped the lead to two, chipping in a shot from close range right in front. Kyle Criscuolo made it 3-0 late in the period when he made a fantastic play to the side of the net, batting a puck out of mid-air and past Carruth stick-side for his 10th of the season. Shots on goal: GR 17 – Roc 8

Great sliding block by Brian Lashoff to take away a Rockford scoring chance. Street was the last man back on the PP and wound for a slapper up the middle that was blocked. It turned into a breakaway for the IceHogs, but Heeter stoned the Rockford shooter. Grand Rapids with a string of powerplays midway through the third as Rockford losing its composure. Martin Frk with a huge slapshot off the faceoff that missed wide. Street with a nice pass to Frk in the circle, Frk lasered a one timer past a partially screened Carruth before he even saw it. Bertuzzi with a breakway but Carruth made the stop. Allen crosschecked Valleau which boiled over into a series of payers pushing and shoving with each other. Labrie got a couple of extra whacks in on Turgeon before Allen and Valleau dropped the gloves in a roughing exchange. Bertuzzi almost pulled off a spin move to get to the net shorthanded for a chance, but the puck just rolled away. Callahan laid a big hit on Baun on the corner and came out with the puck on his stick. Callahan into the zone with speed made a nice crossice feed to Street who fired a waster off Carruth’s mask. Shots on goal: GR 10 – Roc 12.

Louis-Marc Aubry dropped the gloves with Carrick and thumped him pretty good before putting him into the IceHogs bench. Schmaltz broke the shutout bid when he took a back door pass and buried it into the open side of the net. Two-on-one with Nosek and Street. Street drew the defender and then fed Nosek for a redirect that hit Carruth. Street to the box for a double high-sticking minor leaving the Griffins shorthanded for four minutes. Rockford pulled Carruth for the extra attacker and an attempt to gain some ground on Grand Rapids. Nosek intercepted the puck and fired it the length of the ice and into the Rockford net to push the score to 5-1. Grand Rapids caught a break when the puck lay behind Heeter in the crease and a pile-up of skaters knocked him, the puck, and the net together. The play was reviewed and called no goal. Carruth to the bench again. Great defensive play by Renouf short handed to steal the puck for the clear. Rockford pressing again with Carruth on the bench and Callahan fired it into the empty net to provide the fin al margin of victory 6-1. Shots on goal: GR 6 – Roc 9. For the Game: GR 33 – Roc 29

Lines:
Svechnikov – Street – Callahan
Frk – Nosek- Bertuzzi
Ford – Aubry – Criscuolo
Sadowy – Turgeon – Borkowski

Pairings:
Lashoff – Allen
Renouf – Russo
Paetsch – Hicketts

Starter: Heeter
Backup: Pasquale

Scratches:
#11 Cleary – Veteran
#17 Caito
#26 Tangradi – injured
#28 Lorito – Injured
#45 Campbell – Injured

PP:
Callahan – Nosek – Ford
Frk – Street

Bertuzzi – Criscuolo – Svechnikov
Hicketts – Russo

PK:
Bertuzzi – Aubry/Nosek
Renouf – Russo

Ford – Aubry/Sadowy
Paetsch – Lashoff

Observations:

Despite not bringing much else to the game, it was still pretty impressive that Martin Frk had 10 shots on goal.

Rookie blueliner Dan Renouf is really starting to find his stride defensively. He played a solid game and his stick work and positioning were very good. I lost count of the number times he was in the right position to pick up the puck carrier and then angled him off and with a flick of the stick, picked the puck up and sent it out of harms way.

Eric Tangradi continues to suffer through a tough luck season. I saw him get hurt late in the game on Friday and skate to the bench favoring his arm/hand, but didn’t notice that he didn’t play again. As he was out again tonight it appears he has been bitten by the injury bug once again. Here’s to hoping it is a quick heal and he has a better 2017 portion of the season.