The Griffins shut out the Milwaukee Admirals 6-0 in Milwaukee and put an end to their 10 game win streak. After only winning 1 of their first 8 games, the Griffins have now won 5 games in a row and are 6-1-1 in their last 8. Tomas Jurco and Andreas Athanasiou were a big part of helping jump start the team’s offense, but it’s been the team as a whole really coming together and playing darn good hockey that’s gotten them back on track. They’re 7-8-0-1 now on the season, almost up to 50-50 which is a big step forward for them. The team is looking like a team, playing as a unit, and actually playing hockey well. It’s like a Thanksgiving miracle.
Here are the goals
Andy Miele unassisted at 13:31 of the 1st period, what a great individual effort all the way up ice, through the Admirals defense, and a top corner snipe on Mazanec. 1-0 Griffins
Eric Tangradi power play goal from Mark Zengerle and Andy Miele at 18:40 of the 1st period. If at first you don’t succeed (because you whiffed on the puck) try again! 2-0 Griffins.
Andy Miele’s 2nd goal of the night from Mark Zengerle and Brian Lashoff at 4:20 of the 2nd period. I bet Mazanec wished he had been able to stone Miele. 3-0 Griffins
Mitch Callahan goal from Andreas Athanasiou and Robbie Russo at 9:44 of the 3rd period. 4-0 Griffins.
Danny Cleary’s 1st goal as a Griffin from Tomas Nosek and Tyler Bertuzzi at 14:16 of the 3rd period. *walker creaks* Hang on guys, I’m coming… No, I’ve got this *fumbles with puck* Woo! I got it! *knees fall off* 5-0 Griffins.
Louis-Marc Aubry goal unassisted at 19:59 of the 3rd period. I see your 5-hole! 6-0 Griffins!
Player Notes
Tomas Jurco made a few fancy little moves tonight, swagger moves as I’ll call them, and it’s something he used to do in Grand Rapids all the time, but that I haven’t seen since his confidence was destroyed. When the Wings sent him down to GR for the conditioning stint, Coach Blashill told him he wanted to see some things beyond what shows up on the scoresheet, more than just scoring goals and putting up points. Jurco 5 goals and 4 assists in 5 games with the Griffins and is 3rd on the team in points despite his short stay. Those points have been a huge boost to the Griffins and to Jurco personally as well, but he’s also doing a lot of other things well that Blashill is looking for. He’s forechecking, he’s playing with more confidence and asserting himself, and getting into the play more rather than being tentative on the outskirts of the action. He’s also rediscovering his offensive instincts and taking charge more, rather than deferring to his linemates, like he did when he first arrived. Jurco will play one more game on Saturday before heading back to Detroit.
Anthony Mantha’s missed his 3rd game with an upper body injury that I believe he sustained during this fight with Stu Bickel last Friday night. It’s being said that it’s not a serious injury, which is good news, and that he may be able to play again in the next few games.
Tyler Bertuzzi is starting to play like the Bertuzzi we saw in the playoffs last year; he’s not there yet, but he’s making progress. He’s been a big disappointment so far this season, because he hasn’t been the offensive, disciplined, pesty, netfront menace I’ve come to expect.
It was an all around great game for the team and every line contributed at least one goal and 2/3 of the defense pairings getting assists. Coreau pitched the shutout and the team played better defense and supported each other better. I think we’re finally seeing the real Griffins.
Here’s your play-by-play game recap
———-
MILWAUKEE – Jared Coreau stopped all 22 shots he faced as the Grand Rapids Griffins extended their winning streak to five, routing the Milwaukee Admirals 6-0 on Friday at BMO Harris Bradley Center.
Andy Miele scored twice and added an assist while Mark Zengerle added two assists to improve the Griffins record to 6-1-0-1 over the last eight games. The result also snapped the Central Division-leading Admirals’ ten-game winning streak.
Miele opened the scoring for the Griffins (7-8-0-1) on a terrific individual effort with 6:29 remaining in the opening period. Starting with the puck behind his own net, Miele gained the zone and went around Kristian Nakyva towards the right circle, then came back towards the net on his forehand, lifting the puck over Marek Mazanec’s blocker.
Eric Tangradi added to the Griffins’ lead on the power play with 1:20 remaining. Miele sent a pass from the circle to Zengerle at the far post, who then fired a cross-crease pass to Tangradi for his team-leading sixth goal of the season. Grand Rapids outshot Milwaukee 10-4 in the opening frame.
The Griffins made it a 3-0 game 4:20 into the middle frame. Zengerle’s pass from the right circle found Miele, whose shot from a difficult angle below the left circle beat Mazanec on the short side.
The night went from bad to worse for Milwaukee as the Griffins added three insurance goals in the final frame. The first came after Andreas Athanasiou’s pass from the right corner found Mitch Callahan at the left circle, who fired a wrist shot on the short side with 10:16 remaining.
Dan Cleary scored his first as a Griffin with 4:44 remaining. Surrounded by two Admiral defenders, Tomas Nosek sent a pass from the left circle to Cleary, who was uncovered in the slot. Cleary then sent a shot low to the glove side.
Louis-Marc Aubry added a sixth with less than one second on the clock. After intercepting Pontus Aberg’s backhand pass towards the right point, Aubry went on a breakaway, scoring on Mazanec’s five-hole after the Admirals netminder missed on the pokecheck.
Grand Rapids went 1-for-5 on the power play, while Milwaukee (12-5-1-0) failed to score on five opportunities. Mazanec stopped 28 of 34 shots in a losing effort.
The Griffins return to Van Andel Arena for a four-game home stand beginning Saturday against the Lake Erie Monsters at 7 p.m.
Three Stars: 1. GR Miele (two goals, one assist); 2. GR Zengerle (two assists); 3. GR Coreau (W, 22 saves, SO)
