TOUGH TRIO

PEORIA, Ill. – Grand Rapids could not solve the line of Martin Kariya, Julian Talbot and Charles Linglet as each tallied three points, helping the Peoria Rivermen deliver a 4-1 loss to the Griffins Thursday night at Carver Arena.

Grand Rapids will travel to Iowa Friday for the first time this season to kick off a back-to-back set against the Stars at 8:07 p.m. EST, continuing its three-games-in-three-nights stretch and season-high six-game road trip.

The Griffins scored first to take a 1-0 lead in the closing minutes of the opening period during a power play, as Jonathan Ericsson held in a Peoria clearing attempt along the left boards, allowing Carl Corazzini to scoop up the loose puck and rip it past Marek Schwarz from the high slot at 18:39.

Peoria forged ahead and stole a 2-1 advantage early in the second frame by tallying two quick goals just 33 seconds apart. Kariya pounded a third attempt past Jimmy Howard during a power play at 9:54, before Steve Wagner whistled a rocket off Howard’s blocker and into the net from the top of the left circle at 10:27.

Grand Rapids appeared to notch the equalizer shortly after when Josef Fojtik, who was making his AHL debut, soared into the Rivermen zone and snapped a shot into the upper corner over Schwarz’s glove, but was denied a spot on the scoresheet. The referee signaled goal, but the goal judge did not illuminated the red lamp. After a lengthy discussion among officials, the goal was waved off and the Griffins skated into the second intermission down by one.

Talbot added to the Rivermen’s lead at 3:57 of the final period, fluttering a shot barely into the lower right corner from the hash marks to cap off a tic-tac-toe play with Kariya and Linglet.

Peoria netted one more before all was said and done with Kariya lighting the lamp for the second time at 18:23, showing patience as he skated through the goal mouth and lifting the puck over a sprawling Howard. The Griffins netminder gave another great performance in the crease with 34 saves while Schwarz stopped 28 for the Rivermen.