NINE IS FINE

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Doug Janik’s one-timer from the right circle 1:21 into overtime gave the Grand Rapids Griffins a 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Admirals on Friday, improving their perfect mark at Van Andel Arena to 8-0 with their ninth straight victory overall.

Janik also assisted on Patrick Rissmiller’s game-tying goal in the third period, as Grand Rapids came from behind to win for the fourth time in its last five games and the seventh time in its 10 victories this season.

The Griffins (10-4-0-0), who’ve moved into a tie with Hamilton for third place in the North Division, will host the AHL’s best team on Saturday when the Rochester Americans visit at 7 p.m. Rochester sits atop the North at 12-2-1-0 after seeing its 11-game winning streak end on Thursday.

Milwaukee (6-5-1-2) used a 5-on-3 power play to pot the only goal of the opening period. From the right goal line, Cal O’Reilly found Ryan Jones on the doorstep for an easy redirection past Thomas McCollum at 10:11.

The Griffins answered with their own power play tally 6:44 into the second period, as Mattias Ritola deposited a rebound of Kris Newbury’s shot from the right side. Newbury’s helper extended his assist streak to seven games, tying a Griffins single-season mark accomplished five times before and moving within one game of Valtteri Filppula’s overall franchise record that spanned the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons. Newbury’s streak is a career high and the longest run in the AHL this season.

Another power play goal gave the Admirals a 2-1 lead with 5:01 remaining in the frame. After an initial save by McCollum, Dave Scatchard pounced on a juicy rebound in the slot and slipped the puck through a crowd, past the sprawled netminder and just inside the right post.

Grand Rapids again tied matters at the 7:42 mark of the third period, when Janik fired a shot from the left point that Rissmiller tipped inside Chet Pickard’s far post to force overtime.

McCollum rebounded from a hand injury earlier in the week to post 25 saves and his fourth consecutive win, while Pickard made 26 stops in defeat.

The Griffins are now two wins shy of tying their franchise records for longest winning streak both at home (10 twice, most recently Jan. 23-Feb. 27, 2004) and overall (11, March 5-31, 2006).

After the game, Grand Rapids goalie Daniel Larsson was recalled by the Detroit Red Wings, and the Griffins re-signed netminder Sebastien Centomo to a professional tryout.

Three Stars: 1. GR Janik (game-winning goal, assist); 2. GR Rissmiller (goal); 3. MIL O’Reilly (two assists)