TORRENT IN TORONTO

TORONTO – The Grand Rapids Griffins converted on two power plays attempts and defeated the Toronto Marlies 6-1 during a Wednesday matinee at Ricoh Coliseum. Mark Cullen tallied three assists, while Jonathan Ericsson, Mark Hartigan, Evan McGrath and Jamie Tardif all had two-point outings during the Griffins’ largest margin of victory thus far this season.

Grand Rapids continues its four-games-five-nights road stretch Friday in San Antonio, as it takes on former Griffins’ bench boss Greg Ireland and the Rampage at 8 p.m. EST.

The Griffins scored an early goal at 2:35 of the opening period when Garrett Stafford let a low shot go from the point that was tipped past Scott Clemmensen by Ericsson during a power play. The Marlies appeared to even the score midway through the frame, but the goal was ruled kicked in and disallowed giving Grand Rapids a 1-0 lead at the break.

The Griffins’ power play produced once again at the 11:08 mark of the second period. Hartigan notched his team-leading 11th goal by jamming the puck past the stick of the goaltender off a pass through the goal mouth by Carl Corazzini. With the goal, Grand Rapids has netted a power play tally in five consecutive games.

Soon after, Hartigan etched his name on the score sheet again with a great assist, as he faked a shot during a 2-on-1 break to fool the defenseman and fed Darren Helm, who snapped a one-timer into an open net.

Hungry for more than a 3-0 advantage by the second horn, Tardif put Grand Rapids up 4-0 at 17:20. After accepting a pass from Ericsson, Tardif cut into the Marlies’ zone only to bank a shot off the goal post and over Clemmensen’s glove from the right circle, convincing Toronto to put Justin Pogge in net at the start of the third.

Evan McGrath scored a similar goal at 7:46 of the final stanza, as he sped along the right boards and sent a wrister to the top shelf. But the Marlies spoiled Jimmy Howard’s shutout with less than two minutes remaining when John Mitchell set up Chris Harrington on the back doorstep during a power play at 18:03.

However, the Griffins earned another a five-goal edge at 19:34, as Tardif netted his second of the game by pounding the puck over the goal line from in close during a skirmish.

Howard gave a solid performance in the Griffins’ crease with 25 saves, while Clemmensen made 24 through two periods for Toronto before Pogge stepped in and stopped nine of 11 shots he faced.