TEXAS-SIZED WINNING STREAK AT 13

Texas Stars 4 at GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 5

Dec. 18, 2015

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins rallied from deficits of 2-0 early and 3-2 entering the third period to extend their franchise record with their 13th consecutive win, a thrilling 5-4 triumph over the Texas Stars on Friday at Van Andel Arena.

Tyler Bertuzzi, Anthony Mantha and Louis-Marc Aubry scored during the final frame, and Jared Coreau made 27 saves and helped hold off the Stars’ late charge. Grand Rapids (15-8-0-1) also moved within one victory of the franchise-record home winning streak of 10 games set twice before, most recently during the 2003-04 campaign.

The Griffins, whose 13 wins in a row constitute the second-longest streak in the AHL over the last eight seasons, will look for No. 14 on Saturday in a 7 p.m. rematch with the Stars, after which they will have six days off for the Christmas break.

Texas (14-11-2-2) needed less than five minutes to twice dent a Griffins defense that had surrendered only 19 goals during the previous 12 games of the run. Travis Morin got the visitors started only 38 seconds in, beating Nick Jensen in a race to the puck and quickly slipping a backhand between the legs of Coreau. Texas seized its 2-0 lead at the 4:08 mark during a power play, as Justin Dowling sniped a one-timer from low in the right circle.

Captain Jeff Hoggan’s great effort just 2:24 later put the Griffins on the scoreboard. He intercepted a clearing pass at the point, turned and skated to the top of the left circle before ripping a shot past Jack Campbell.

Following the furious start, more than 30 minutes of played transpired until the Griffins netted the equalizer. During a power play, Martin Frk took a feed from Robbie Russo at the left point and skated a few strides along the blue line before teeing up a rocket that found the back of the net at 17:51. That 2-2 deadlock didn’t even last until intermission, though, as Brendan Ranford crashed the crease to pop home a Jason Dickinson pass with less than two seconds remaining, despite the presence of four Griffins skaters in the slot.

The Griffins responded 44 ticks into the third to knot the game at 3-3. Mark Zengerle centered a pass on the doorstep to Bertuzzi, who got just enough of a whack at the puck to send it fluttering over Campbell’s right shoulder. Grand Rapids then grabbed its first lead of the night thanks to Mantha, who drove the net to sweep home the rebound of Xavier Ouellet’s shot for a power play tally at 14:26.

Less than a minute later, Aubry staked out ground in front of the Texas goal to tip Jensen’s shot past Campbell with 4:40 remaining. The Stars quickly answered on a redirection by McKenzie to make it a one-goal game at the 16:12 mark, but they could not score again despite sustained pressure in the Griffins’ end with Campbell pulled for most of the final two minutes.

Coreau won his ninth straight game while setting another personal best with his fifth consecutive appearance. Campbell stopped 36 shots for the Stars, who have now dropped their last six clashes against the Griffins both overall and at Van Andel Arena.

Notes: The Griffins (2-for-4) scored multiple power play goals for the first time since Nov. 20 – also the last time they allowed more than three goals to an opponent – and the second time since Oct. 21. Texas went 1-for-4 with the advantage…Prior to the game, the Detroit Red Wings reassigned forward Zach Nastasiuk to the Griffins from the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye

Three Stars: 1. GR Mantha (power play goal); 2. TEX Morin (goal, assist); 3. GR Ouellet (two assists)

Texas Stars 4 at GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 5

Dec. 18, 2015

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins rallied from deficits of 2-0 early and 3-2 entering the third period to extend their franchise record with their 13th consecutive win, a thrilling 5-4 triumph over the Texas Stars on Friday at Van Andel Arena.

Tyler Bertuzzi, Anthony Mantha and Louis-Marc Aubry scored during the final frame, and Jared Coreau made 27 saves and helped hold off the Stars’ late charge. Grand Rapids (15-8-0-1) also moved within one victory of the franchise-record home winning streak of 10 games set twice before, most recently during the 2003-04 campaign.

The Griffins, whose 13 wins in a row constitute the second-longest streak in the AHL over the last eight seasons, will look for No. 14 on Saturday in a 7 p.m. rematch with the Stars, after which they will have six days off for the Christmas break.

Texas (14-11-2-2) needed less than five minutes to twice dent a Griffins defense that had surrendered only 19 goals during the previous 12 games of the run. Travis Morin got the visitors started only 38 seconds in, beating Nick Jensen in a race to the puck and quickly slipping a backhand between the legs of Coreau. Texas seized its 2-0 lead at the 4:08 mark during a power play, as Justin Dowling sniped a one-timer from low in the right circle.

Captain Jeff Hoggan’s great effort just 2:24 later put the Griffins on the scoreboard. He intercepted a clearing pass at the point, turned and skated to the top of the left circle before ripping a shot past Jack Campbell.

Following the furious start, more than 30 minutes of played transpired until the Griffins netted the equalizer. During a power play, Martin Frk took a feed from Robbie Russo at the left point and skated a few strides along the blue line before teeing up a rocket that found the back of the net at 17:51. That 2-2 deadlock didn’t even last until intermission, though, as Brendan Ranford crashed the crease to pop home a Jason Dickinson pass with less than two seconds remaining, despite the presence of four Griffins skaters in the slot.

The Griffins responded 44 ticks into the third to knot the game at 3-3. Mark Zengerle centered a pass on the doorstep to Bertuzzi, who got just enough of a whack at the puck to send it fluttering over Campbell’s right shoulder. Grand Rapids then grabbed its first lead of the night thanks to Mantha, who drove the net to sweep home the rebound of Xavier Ouellet’s shot for a power play tally at 14:26.

Less than a minute later, Aubry staked out ground in front of the Texas goal to tip Jensen’s shot past Campbell with 4:40 remaining. The Stars quickly answered on a redirection by McKenzie to make it a one-goal game at the 16:12 mark, but they could not score again despite sustained pressure in the Griffins’ end with Campbell pulled for most of the final two minutes.

Coreau won his ninth straight game while setting another personal best with his fifth consecutive appearance. Campbell stopped 36 shots for the Stars, who have now dropped their last six clashes against the Griffins both overall and at Van Andel Arena.

Notes: The Griffins (2-for-4) scored multiple power play goals for the first time since Nov. 20 – also the last time they allowed more than three goals to an opponent – and the second time since Oct. 21. Texas went 1-for-4 with the advantage…Prior to the game, the Detroit Red Wings reassigned forward Zach Nastasiuk to the Griffins from the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye

Three Stars: 1. GR Mantha (power play goal); 2. TEX Morin (goal, assist); 3. GR Ouellet (two assists)