GRIFFINS LET LOOSE ON THE MOOSE
WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Carl Corazzini’s unassisted breakaway goal 1:51 into overtime lifted the Grand Rapids Griffins to a 4-3 victory against the Manitoba Moose Saturday at the MTS Centre.
The win pushes the Griffins’ record to 3-0 for the third time in four years and the fourth time in team history (2000-01, 2004-05, 2005-06). The Griffins will return to Grand Rapids for their home opener at Van Andel Arena, where they will take on the Rockford IceHogs at 7:00 p.m. next Saturday, October 20.
The Moose drew first blood late in the first period. Luc Bourdon dumped the puck down the right boards from center ice, and Jason Jaffray gained possession just in front of the goal line. Jaffray fired a centering pass, and the disc glanced off the skate of a Griffins defender and into the net at the 18:12 mark.
Grand Rapids quickly netted the equalizer in dramatic fashion when Mark Hartigan slammed home a power play goal at 19:59 as the horn sounded. From the right wing corner, Garrett Stafford passed through traffic to Hartigan at the top of the left wing circle, where Hartigan blasted a slap shot past rookie Cory Schneider.
The Griffins took their first lead of the evening at 9:47 in the second period when Adam Keefe emerged from the penalty box and immediately received a pass from Brett Engelhardt. With a Manitoba defender on his shoulder, Keefe swooped through the left circle and onto Schneider’s doorstep, where he pushed a forehand try between the goaltender’s pads for a 2-1 edge. Grand Rapids extended their lead to 3-1 when Ryan Oulahen slipped a wrist shot from the right faceoff dot into the mesh at 19:25.
The Moose, however, would not go quietly. Bourdon unleashed a rocket from 45 feet out that found the back of the net, bringing the score to 3-2 in favor of Grand Rapids at 1:02 in the final frame. Manitoba drew even at 12:44 when Brad Moran converted a turnover into a goal. As Moran unloaded directly in front of the net, Tom Galvin dropped to one knee and blocked the initial shot. The puck bounced directly back to Moran, who was able to finish the unassisted score.
Making his Griffins debut in net, Adam Berkhoel recorded 25 saves. Schneider finished the evening with 20 saves for the Moose.
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