FIGURE EIGHT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Grand Rapids Griffins used a pair of first-period shorthanded goals and 36 saves from Tom McCollum to win their eighth consecutive game, holding off the Charlotte Checkers 2-1 on Saturday at Bojangles’ Coliseum.

Louis-Marc Aubry started the scoring shorthanded for the Griffins (36-20-1-1) with 5:38 left in the opening period. After Dan Cleary sent a drop pass to Aubry from the right circle, Aubry made his way down from the right point to the edge of the left circle, sending a wrist shot off the inside of the right post and in.

The Griffins added a second shorthanded tally with 5.8 seconds remaining in the first. Colin Campbell’s centering pass found Aubry in the high slot for a one-timer, forcing a terrific glove save from John Muse. Aubry continued to jam away at the rebound, while Campbell raced in to put home the loose puck as the Charlotte netminder was flat on his back.

Keegan Lowe put Charlotte (27-24-3-3) on the scoresheet at the 10:44 mark of the middle frame. Anthony Camara crashed the net from the right circle and attempted to go back on his forehand, but had his stick lifted by Ryan Sproul. The puck then rolled across the goal mouth and on to the stick of Lowe, who beat McCollum to the blocker side.

The Checkers would not go away quietly, aided by two Griffin minor penalties in the final 7:32 of regulation. However, McCollum was equal to the task as he earned his fourth straight victory and fifth in his last six starts. The result prolonged Charlotte’s second-half freefall, with the Checkers winless in their last eight on home ice.

Grand Rapids finished a perfect 7-for-7 on the penalty kill, but were unable to convert on three power play opportunities. Muse turned aside 24 of 26 shots in a losing effort.

The Griffins return to Van Andel Arena on Friday and Saturday, March 11-12 for a series against the Manitoba Moose. Both games start at 7 p.m.

Three Stars: 1. GR Aubry (shorthanded goal); 2. GR McCollum (W, 36 saves); 3. CHA Camara (assist)

Notes: Lowe’s goal snapped the Griffins’ 161:29 road shutout streak, dating back to the 9:15 mark of the third period in a 4-2 defeat at Rockford on Feb. 14. Grand Rapids doubled its season output with two shorthanded tallies on Saturday.