ONE FOR THE BOOKS

HAMILTON, Ont. The Grand Rapids Griffins remained perfect through the first three games of the season with Friday nights 3-1 win over the Hamilton Bulldogs at Copps Coliseum.

Jiri Hudler paced the Griffins attack with two goals on six shots, continuing his blistering start to the 2005-06 campaign. Hudlers fourth and fifth scoring strikes of the year set an all-time club record through three games, and his eight points overall ties the team mark set in 1997-98 by Griffins great Michel Picard.

After dominating much of the play early, Grand Rapids jumped onto the scoreboard at the 10:10 mark of first period. Eric Manlow provided his first of two assists on the night as he regained control of an errant shot centering the puck to a streaking Hudler, who banged the puck home from twenty feet.

Hudler struck again in the periods closing moments this time on a great individual effort. The left winger corralled several loose pucks in the Hamilton offensive zone, catching the Bulldogs napping. After firing shot after shot at Hamilton goaltender Olivier Michaud, Hudler finally poked the puck in from point blank range with just 9.1 seconds remaining. Nate DiCasmirro and Manlow picked up the helpers on the goal, as the Griffins left the ice with a 2-0 lead.

Grand Rapids play in the second period was marred by the sound of the whistle, as they endured a steady parade to the penalty box. Hamilton took advantage on the power play as Andre Benoit tipped a Corey Locke shot past Griffins goaltender Drew MacIntyre, who had no real chance to make the save.

Hamiltons best chance to break even was a 5-on-3 opportunity toward the end of the period. But the Grand Rapids penalty kill brilliantly answered the call, stopping the Bulldogs momentum and 7 of 8 opposing power plays on the night.

The Griffins sealed the deal 3:42 into the third period on a slap shot insurance goal by Tomas Kopecky with help from Eric Himelfarb.

Grand Rapids moves to 3-0-0-0 on the season, as they head home Saturday to take on the Houston Aeros at Van Andel Arena. Scheduled start time is 7:00 p.m.