EXTRA-SPECIAL SPECIAL TEAMS

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 3 at Oklahoma City Barons 2

March 14, 2014

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Grand Rapids Griffins scored two power play goals and went five-for-five on the penalty kill in Friday’s 3-2 win over the Oklahoma City Barons at the Cox Convention Center.

The win put the Griffins on top of the Western Conference (38-18-2-4, 82 pts.), two points ahead of the second-place Texas Stars. Grand Rapids will look to extend that lead when they face the Barons again at 8 p.m. EDT Saturday in Oklahoma City.

After a scoreless first period, the Griffins had an opportunity to pull ahead and build momentum when Andrej Nestrasil nearly netted a shorthanded breakaway goal about four minutes into the second period. However, he was turned away by Richard Bachman and the game stayed at 0-0 until 8:02 when Nestrasil struck again in a special team role.

A long pass by Martin Frk found Nestrasil at the doorstep for the easy power play tap-in before Bachman could get across.

The lead lasted only a few minutes, as the Barons (29-25-1-7) tied it up at 11:33. Andrew Miller caught a stretch pass and snuck past the Griffins defenseman, flicking the puck above Tom McCollum’s catching glove.

It took the Griffins only 32 seconds into the third period to claim another power play marker when Mitch Callahan deflected a shot by Nick Jensen from the right point. Just 3:04 later, Triston Grant extended Grand Rapids’ lead to 3-1. He got his stick on the puck amidst a seven-man scrum surrounding the Barons’ crease and poked it past Bachman.

Mark Arcobello pulled the game within one at 14:15 after the Griffins coughed up the puck in their zone and handed it to Arcobello, who was alone in front of McCollum. A quick goal made the game 3-2.

The Griffins penalty killers had their work cut out for them in the final minutes of the third period. Jordin Tootoo was called for tripping at 18:10, and the Barons pulled Bachman for the extra skater quickly after the power play began. The penalty killing units broke up multiple plays in front of McCollum, who backstopped the team with 24 saves.

Bachman finished with 26 saves on 29 shots.

Three Stars: 1. GR Grant (game-winning goal); 2. GR Almquist (two assists); 3. OKC Miller (goal)