COMEBACK FOILED

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 2 at Hamilton Bulldogs 5

Jan. 17, 2015

HAMILTON, Ontario- A comeback attempt by the Grand Rapids Griffins was short lived, as the Hamilton Bulldogs turned a 2-2 tie into a 5-2 victory Saturday at FirstOntario Centre.

The Griffins wrap up their road trip 0-3-0-0, and return to home ice Wednesday when Chicago visit Van Andel Arena at 7:00 pm.

Landon Ferraro’s 16th goal of the season tied the contest at 2-2 when he took the puck from center ice and fired a wrister past Mike Condon at 1:24 of the second period. Marek Tvrdon earned his ninth assist on the goal.

The game remained tied for 1:35 before Charles Hudon caught the Griffins in a line change and led a rush toward Jared Coreau and passed the puck to Jacob de la Rose who found an open net for his fifth goal of the season.

The opening goal of the game came 2:05 into the game when Nick Sorkin backhanded a rebound following a shot from David Drewiske over Coreau.
The host Bulldogs were relentless in keeping the puck in the attacking zone when they took a 2-0 lead at 14:20. Drewiske scored his fourth tally of the campaign when he fired a backhand shot over Coreau’s outstretched glove after the Griffins failed to clear the puck.

Grand Rapids (19-15-3-1) got on the scoreboard near the end of the first period following a Kevin Porter slap shot wide of the net that found the stick of Mitch Callahan on the other side who beat a sprawling Condon for his 12th goal of the season.

Following the go-ahead goal by de la Rose, the Griffins had its momentum slowed by penalties as they were assessed six penalties and were shorthanded for 9:16 in the middle period.

The Bulldogs ended the game 1-7 on the power play, with the goal coming at 18:25 following a penalty to Brennan Evans for roughing. Coreau made a save on Hudon and Daniel Carr followed up the rebound by sliding the puck from his backhand side under Coreau’s pad.

Hamilton (18-17-6-0) rounded out the scoring when T.J. Hensick netted his 10th goal of the season with a wraparound that just beat Coreau’s right pad to the post at 2:34 of the third period.

Coreau was relieved following Hensick’s goal in favor of Pat Nagle. Coreau finished with 22 saves on 27 shots in the loss. Nagle saved all five shots he faced in his Grand Rapids debut. Condon earned the win by turning away 19 of the 21 Grand Rapids shots.

Grand Rapids went 0-3 on the power play, and has scored once on its last 18 power plays dating back to a 5-1 home win over Chicago Jan. 10. Hamilton scored once on seven power play opportunities.

Three stars: 1. HAM Macenauer (two assists); 2. HAM Hudon (two assists); 3. HAM Drewiske (goal, two assists).

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 2 at Hamilton Bulldogs 5

Jan. 17, 2015

HAMILTON, Ontario- A comeback attempt by the Grand Rapids Griffins was short lived, as the Hamilton Bulldogs turned a 2-2 tie into a 5-2 victory Saturday at FirstOntario Centre.

The Griffins wrap up their road trip 0-3-0-0, and return to home ice Wednesday when Chicago visit Van Andel Arena at 7:00 pm.

Landon Ferraro’s 16th goal of the season tied the contest at 2-2 when he took the puck from center ice and fired a wrister past Mike Condon at 1:24 of the second period. Marek Tvrdon earned his ninth assist on the goal.

The game remained tied for 1:35 before Charles Hudon caught the Griffins in a line change and led a rush toward Jared Coreau and passed the puck to Jacob de la Rose who found an open net for his fifth goal of the season.

The opening goal of the game came 2:05 into the game when Nick Sorkin backhanded a rebound following a shot from David Drewiske over Coreau.
The host Bulldogs were relentless in keeping the puck in the attacking zone when they took a 2-0 lead at 14:20. Drewiske scored his fourth tally of the campaign when he fired a backhand shot over Coreau’s outstretched glove after the Griffins failed to clear the puck.

Grand Rapids (19-15-3-1) got on the scoreboard near the end of the first period following a Kevin Porter slap shot wide of the net that found the stick of Mitch Callahan on the other side who beat a sprawling Condon for his 12th goal of the season.

Following the go-ahead goal by de la Rose, the Griffins had its momentum slowed by penalties as they were assessed six penalties and were shorthanded for 9:16 in the middle period.

The Bulldogs ended the game 1-7 on the power play, with the goal coming at 18:25 following a penalty to Brennan Evans for roughing. Coreau made a save on Hudon and Daniel Carr followed up the rebound by sliding the puck from his backhand side under Coreau’s pad.

Hamilton (18-17-6-0) rounded out the scoring when T.J. Hensick netted his 10th goal of the season with a wraparound that just beat Coreau’s right pad to the post at 2:34 of the third period.

Coreau was relieved following Hensick’s goal in favor of Pat Nagle. Coreau finished with 22 saves on 27 shots in the loss. Nagle saved all five shots he faced in his Grand Rapids debut. Condon earned the win by turning away 19 of the 21 Grand Rapids shots.

Grand Rapids went 0-3 on the power play, and has scored once on its last 18 power plays dating back to a 5-1 home win over Chicago Jan. 10. Hamilton scored once on seven power play opportunities.

Three stars: 1. HAM Macenauer (two assists); 2. HAM Hudon (two assists); 3. HAM Drewiske (goal, two assists).