PUT THE HAMMER DOWN

Hamilton Bulldogs 0 at GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 2

Feb. 21, 2015

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Petr Mrazek authored his first AHL shutout of the season on Saturday before a sold-out Van Andel Arena, making 26 stops in a 2-0 leashing of the Hamilton Bulldogs to complete his triumphant weekend return from Detroit and pull the Grand Rapids Griffins into a tie for first place in the Midwest Division.

Mrazek, who made 33 saves in Friday’s 3-2 overtime taming of the Bulldogs, helped Grand Rapids push its winning streaks to five games overall and four straight at home. The Griffins have earned points in their last seven home games (5-0-2-0) and their last nine contests overall (7-0-2-0), and they’ve suffered just one regulation loss in their 14 outings (11-1-2-0) since Jan. 23.

Tonight’s win, coupled with Milwaukee’s 4-2 loss to Iowa and Rockford’s 3-2 win at Lake Erie, created a three-way tie for first place in the Midwest, giving Grand Rapids at least a share of the division lead for the first time this season.

After playing three straight and seven of their last eight games within friendly confines, the Griffins will face that exact situation on the road, where their next three and seven of their next eight contests will be staged. The odyssey begins on Tuesday in Des Moines with an 8 p.m. EST start against Iowa.

The Griffins (30-17-5-1) and Bulldogs (26-20-7-0) played to a scoreless tie for the first 39 minutes of the contest, with Grand Rapids outshooting Hamilton by a 16-7 count in the second period to push its margin to 25-14 for the game.

That deadlock was snapped with only 49 seconds remaining in the middle period, in the final second of a power play that began with Grand Rapids on a 5-on-3 advantage. Taking a feed from Andy Miele between the circles, Mark Zengerle uncorked a knuckleball that a screened Mike Condon was unable to handle, extending his point streak to seven games (3-4—7), one shy of Teemu Pulkkinen’s season high.

Nick Jensen gave the Griffins some breathing room 10:57 into the third, flying down the right wall and firing a shot mid-circle that caromed off the blade of Condon’s stick and into the top of the net. Mrazek did the rest, keeping the ‘Dogs at bay despite their 12-5 shot margin over the final 20 minutes.

Condon finished the night with 28 saves on 30 shots.

Three Stars: 1. GR Mrazek (W, 26 saves, SO); 2. GR Zengerle (power play goal); 3. HAM Condon (L, 28 saves)

Hamilton Bulldogs 0 at GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 2

Feb. 21, 2015

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Petr Mrazek authored his first AHL shutout of the season on Saturday before a sold-out Van Andel Arena, making 26 stops in a 2-0 leashing of the Hamilton Bulldogs to complete his triumphant weekend return from Detroit and pull the Grand Rapids Griffins into a tie for first place in the Midwest Division.

Mrazek, who made 33 saves in Friday’s 3-2 overtime taming of the Bulldogs, helped Grand Rapids push its winning streaks to five games overall and four straight at home. The Griffins have earned points in their last seven home games (5-0-2-0) and their last nine contests overall (7-0-2-0), and they’ve suffered just one regulation loss in their 14 outings (11-1-2-0) since Jan. 23.

Tonight’s win, coupled with Milwaukee’s 4-2 loss to Iowa and Rockford’s 3-2 win at Lake Erie, created a three-way tie for first place in the Midwest, giving Grand Rapids at least a share of the division lead for the first time this season.

After playing three straight and seven of their last eight games within friendly confines, the Griffins will face that exact situation on the road, where their next three and seven of their next eight contests will be staged. The odyssey begins on Tuesday in Des Moines with an 8 p.m. EST start against Iowa.

The Griffins (30-17-5-1) and Bulldogs (26-20-7-0) played to a scoreless tie for the first 39 minutes of the contest, with Grand Rapids outshooting Hamilton by a 16-7 count in the second period to push its margin to 25-14 for the game.

That deadlock was snapped with only 49 seconds remaining in the middle period, in the final second of a power play that began with Grand Rapids on a 5-on-3 advantage. Taking a feed from Andy Miele between the circles, Mark Zengerle uncorked a knuckleball that a screened Mike Condon was unable to handle, extending his point streak to seven games (3-4—7), one shy of Teemu Pulkkinen’s season high.

Nick Jensen gave the Griffins some breathing room 10:57 into the third, flying down the right wall and firing a shot mid-circle that caromed off the blade of Condon’s stick and into the top of the net. Mrazek did the rest, keeping the ‘Dogs at bay despite their 12-5 shot margin over the final 20 minutes.

Condon finished the night with 28 saves on 30 shots.

Three Stars: 1. GR Mrazek (W, 26 saves, SO); 2. GR Zengerle (power play goal); 3. HAM Condon (L, 28 saves)