ANYTHING YOU CAN DO I CAN DO BETTER

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Grand Rapids Griffins tied their season best winning-streak by capturing their third-straight victory Friday night against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 6-5 fashion at the Wachovia Arena. In a game that was back and forth through two periods, Matt Ellis earned a career best four assists while matching his career best with four points as his team held their opponent scoreless in the third period for the third-straight contest.

Offense was the story of the first period with the Griffins on the better end of a 4-3 score at intermission. Jeff Campbell notched a goal on the first shot of the game just 24 seconds in from the top of the crease after receiving a feed from Ellis.

The Griffins added to their lead at 8:24 when Darryl Bootland intercepted a pass at the Penguins blue line and dropped the puck to Eric Himelfarb at the left hashes who found the upper corner.

Tyler Kennedy got his Penguins on the board at 10:07 during a power play, sending a shot past Stefan Liv on the short side from the right dot. Only seven seconds later Brendan Brooks answered after Bootland forced another turnover and slid a pass through the slot to his line mate for a one timer.

But the Penguins’ league-leading power play continued to aggravate Grand Rapids as they capitalized during a 5-on-3 at 14:09 on a Micki DuPont blast from the point, in addition to the ensuing 5-on-4 when Patrick Thoresen scored on an attempted pass through the crease that deflected off Liv and into the lower corner.

Campbell tallied his second of the night in pursuit of Matt Hussey’s rebound at 16:32 capping off the first period goal fest.

Daniel Carcillio netted the equalizer 7:27 into the middle frame on a wrist shot from between the circles, but the tie was short-lived courtesy of former Penguin Hussey sending a laser from the left boards over Andrew Penner’s glove at 7:51. The goal allowed Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers to relieve the Penguin goaltender.

Ellis earned his fourth assist at 15:50 during a power play when his shot rebounded to Ryan Keller who pounded the puck over the goal line. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton narrowed the gap at 18:10 on goal from the doorstep by Wade Brookbank.

Both teams were blanked during the third as the Griffins went on to win 6-5 while Liv remained solid in net with 31 saves on the evening. The Griffins will continue their east coast road trip tomorrow with a first ever trip to Albany to battle with the River Rats at 7 p.m.