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Charlotte Checkers 1 at GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 2

April 17, 2015

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Martin Frk’s goal with 11:15 remaining on Friday gave the Grand Rapids Griffins their first 100-point season in nine years and moved them within one point of a Midwest Division title by virtue of a 2-1 victory over the Charlotte Checkers at Van Andel Arena.

Jared Coreau made 27 saves to improve to 10-1 in his last 11 starts and continue the torrid run that has kept Grand Rapids (46-21-6-2) alive for a conference championship heading into its home and regular season finale at 7 p.m. Saturday versus Charlotte. Thanks to 11 wins in their last 12 home games and a 27-5-3-1 mark over their last 36 outings, the Griffins’ magic numbers stand at a single point to win the division over Rockford and claim the No. 2 seed, and three points to clinch the conference’s No. 1 spot over Utica.

The IceHogs will host current No. 8 seed Toronto on Saturday, while the Comets will visit Adirondack. The Griffins are attempting to claim their second division championship in three years under coach Jeff Blashill and earn their first conference crown since the 2005-06 campaign, when they last eclipsed the century mark with 115 points.

A scoreless opening period saw the Griffins gain the upper hand in shots by a 12-5 count, but the Checkers (30-38-6-1) had the best scoring chance when Brock McGinn’s attempt to finish off a breakaway clanged off the right post behind Coreau midway through the frame.

One minute into the second stanza, former Griffin Drew MacIntyre flashed the leather to rob Tomas Nosek after a Charlotte turnover resulted in his wide-open try from the slot. But Grand Rapids broke through on its next flurry, as Kevin Porter cleaned up a goal-mouth scramble by tapping the puck across the line at 1:48.

The Checkers tied matters off a Griffins giveaway at the 7:58 mark, when Kyle Hagel’s shot from the left circle deflected off a defender and snuck between Coreau and the near post.

Frk provided the difference 8:45 into the final period, pouncing on a loose, bouncing puck in the slot and threading a rocket past the blocker of MacIntyre, who logged 31 stops on the night.

Three Stars: 1. GR Frk (game-winning goal, assist); 2. GR Coreau (W, 27 saves); 3. GR Porter (goal)

Charlotte Checkers 1 at GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 2

April 17, 2015

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Martin Frk’s goal with 11:15 remaining on Friday gave the Grand Rapids Griffins their first 100-point season in nine years and moved them within one point of a Midwest Division title by virtue of a 2-1 victory over the Charlotte Checkers at Van Andel Arena.

Jared Coreau made 27 saves to improve to 10-1 in his last 11 starts and continue the torrid run that has kept Grand Rapids (46-21-6-2) alive for a conference championship heading into its home and regular season finale at 7 p.m. Saturday versus Charlotte. Thanks to 11 wins in their last 12 home games and a 27-5-3-1 mark over their last 36 outings, the Griffins’ magic numbers stand at a single point to win the division over Rockford and claim the No. 2 seed, and three points to clinch the conference’s No. 1 spot over Utica.

The IceHogs will host current No. 8 seed Toronto on Saturday, while the Comets will visit Adirondack. The Griffins are attempting to claim their second division championship in three years under coach Jeff Blashill and earn their first conference crown since the 2005-06 campaign, when they last eclipsed the century mark with 115 points.

A scoreless opening period saw the Griffins gain the upper hand in shots by a 12-5 count, but the Checkers (30-38-6-1) had the best scoring chance when Brock McGinn’s attempt to finish off a breakaway clanged off the right post behind Coreau midway through the frame.

One minute into the second stanza, former Griffin Drew MacIntyre flashed the leather to rob Tomas Nosek after a Charlotte turnover resulted in his wide-open try from the slot. But Grand Rapids broke through on its next flurry, as Kevin Porter cleaned up a goal-mouth scramble by tapping the puck across the line at 1:48.

The Checkers tied matters off a Griffins giveaway at the 7:58 mark, when Kyle Hagel’s shot from the left circle deflected off a defender and snuck between Coreau and the near post.

Frk provided the difference 8:45 into the final period, pouncing on a loose, bouncing puck in the slot and threading a rocket past the blocker of MacIntyre, who logged 31 stops on the night.

Three Stars: 1. GR Frk (game-winning goal, assist); 2. GR Coreau (W, 27 saves); 3. GR Porter (goal)