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Post by Stripe on Mar 12, 2009 10:50:21 GMT -5
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Post by Stripe on Mar 9, 2009 12:10:12 GMT -5
Downey was sent back already, but Lilja may be placed on Long Term Injury List, leaving a spot for Ericsson to stay in Detroit.
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Post by Stripe on Mar 6, 2009 16:39:58 GMT -5
He'll probably be back in GR in less than a week, along with a few other players...
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Post by Stripe on Mar 5, 2009 8:42:39 GMT -5
Griffins Tame IceHogs 3-1 Larsson loses shutout bid in last minute... By Jason Kasiorek www.griffinscentral.comWith a newly bolstered lineup featuring Darren McCarty, Darren Helm and Ville Leino among others, the Griffins thoroughly dominated the visiting rockford IceHogs in a 3-1 contest. Frankie Pare scored his 20th of the season joining Justin Abdelkader to tie a team record for rookie goal scorers in a season. Josh Langfeld and Chris Bala both scored 21 goals in the 2001-02 season as rookies, marking the only other time the team has had two first year players break the 20 goal mark. Ryan Oulahen scored his career best 18th goal, and the recently returned Leino also scored in the win. Daniel Larsson turned in a great game, but was denied a shutout in the last minute of play when Leino got cute instead of shooting the puck at the empty net, and turned the puck over, leading to an IceHogs goal. After playing with a patched together lineup for so long, it was apparent right from the pre-game skate that there was a lot of offensive firepower on the roster tonight. It didn't take them long to connect either as seven minutes in McGrath behind the net, made a great pass to Pare in front. Pare roofed it just under the crossbar for a 1-0 lead. For the most part Grand Rapids carried the play in the period only allowing Rockford two really good scoring chances. Larsson came up big on the first and got some help from Kolosov behind him in the crease on the other. Shots on Goal: GR 12 - Roc 10. Oulahen had a great chance shorthanded, manufacturing a partial breakaway on Crawford, but couldn't get a good shot off. The Griffins finally got their first powerplay almost halfway through the second, but it would only take them 19 seconds to score. Leino let go a rocket wrister from the circle that hit something and got past Crawford who was being screened by Abdelkader. Shots on Goal: GR 14 - Roc 11. The third period got a little interesting as four straight Griffins penalties gave Rockford a chance to get back into it. The Grand Rapids penalty killers, however, were up to the task and had some of the more danerous scoring chances. Crawford to the bench for the extra skater with 2:02 on the clock. Even with the extra attacker the Griffins still controlled the puck. Leino got the puck out of the Griffins zone and looped around at the line trying to weave in and out of several IceHogs for a pretty play at the open net. He got caught and coughed up the puck which ended up in the Griffins net with less than a minute on the clock. With time running out and the IceHogs still pressing with the extra attacker, Darren McCarty got the puck out of the zone, made the smart play, and hit Oulahen with a pass that ended up in the empty net to close out the scoring. Shots on Goal: GR 13 - Roc 10. For the Game: GR 39 - Roc 31. Lines: Start Ritola - Helm - McCarty Oulahen - Abdelkader - Haydar Leino - Emmerton - Tardif Gagnon - Pare - McGrath Finish Ritola - Abdelkader - Tardif Leino - Helm - Haydar Emmerton - Pare - McGrath Oulahen - Gagnon - McCarty Pairings: Start Stafford - Jozsa Kolosov - Pyett Kindl - Peterson Finish Kolosov - Stafford Peterson - Jozsa Kindl - Pyett Starter: Larsson Backup: #29 Clayton Pool Scratches: Howard - Concussion, Knee Galvin - Knee Lemieux - Knee, hip Mursak PP: Oulahen/Helm - Abdelkader - Leino Haydar - Stafford Ritola - Emmerton - Tardif Kindl - Haydar/Pyett PK: Oulahen - Gagnon Kolosov - Stafford Ritola - Abdelkader Kindl - Peterson Helm - Leino Observations: It was fun to watch this lineup attack the Icehogs in waves. At times they were cycling the puck while they completed line changes, never giving up pressure on Crawford. The end really was a letdown, as was my opinion of Leino's play most of the night. We wondered whether Helm and Leino would be motivated to play hard, or would sulk after their recent time in the NHL. Helm did not disappoint, playing hard all night. Leino on the other hand spent a lot of time coasting, and when he did have the puck he was trying to beat the whole other team instead of just making a play. Several times instead of passing the puck and getting it back he thought he was Pavel Datsyuk trying to beat three guys. I am sure he will adjust, if he is here long enough before returning to Detroit. I was quietly impressed with Peterson's game. He made some nice defensive plays where his superior speed allowed him to get back and make a difference. He had a nice shot on goal from the point that looked dangerous, and he moved the puck up ice well. The converse of that was Jakub Kindl who has slipped even further from his early season form. I lost count of the number of times he had all the room in the world and still went up the middle, banging his clearing pass off the forecheckers leg creating a turnover and subsequent shot at Larsson. I am sure that Evan McGrath had something to say to him too, as Kindl passed the puck from behind the net to McGrath's feet right in front as two Icehogs converged on him. He was forced to take a couple of big hits to move the puck out from in front of the net and prevent a scoring chance. With Galvin sidelined and Ericsson in Detroit, the Griffins are in need of another defenseman before the clear day deadline, preferably one who can shoot the puck on the powerplay as well as play in his own end. Galvin who is rumored to have a torn MCL may return earlier than the 6+ weeks projected usually associated with that injury. Official Game Sheet
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Post by Stripe on Mar 4, 2009 16:51:00 GMT -5
Both Ericsson and Downey stayed in Detroit.
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Post by Stripe on Mar 4, 2009 9:55:21 GMT -5
A whole slew of changes today:
LW Mike Walsh released from PTO. G John Ceci assigned to Muskegon (IHL) G Clayton Pool signed to PTO. D Jonathan Ericsson assigned by Detroit. RW Aaron Downey assigned by Detroit.
Walsh was a casualty of all the players returning to the lineup from injury and recall. He might be back after the clear day deadline if Helm and Leino return to Detroit.
The signing of Pool means that Howard will be out for a while (or traded, more on that later), as he is a better netminder than Ceci and could see some ice time for GR.
Ericsson is not really coming back yet, it is a paper transaction, he has to be assigned to the AHL prior to the trade deadline, but will be recalled again after. Downey may or may not be the same deal, but it is likely he will return to GR.
Several rumors about potential Red Wings deadline trades are surfacing including Howard as one of the players going the other way. I won't speculate on that, but the rumors come from several different sources, so I can't discount them all. (where there's smoke...).
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Post by Stripe on Mar 2, 2009 15:41:33 GMT -5
Thanks for the recap GW, it's poster's like you that keep this community going.
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Post by Stripe on Mar 2, 2009 13:57:47 GMT -5
redwings.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=411788The Red wings have returned Ville Leino and Darren Helm to Grand Rapids and have recalled Aaron Downey and Jonathan Ericsson to Detroit (NHL). With the NHL trade deadline on Wednesday, and the rosters expanding afterward, Helm and Leino should be getting recalled again before the playoffs.
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Post by Stripe on Feb 24, 2009 9:11:06 GMT -5
The official announcement should be made later today. Per the CBA he is on a two-week conditioning stint, which will end March 10th, meaning the home fans will only gte to see him on March 4th vs Rockford.
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Post by Stripe on Feb 23, 2009 9:13:04 GMT -5
Rampage Stopped As Griffins Hang On For 5-4 Win Big night by the fourth line keys victory... By Jason Kasiorek www.griffinscentral.comGrand Rapids was able to ride a scoring surge from some unlikely sources to top the San Antonio Rampage. The Griffins got big offensive contributions from the fourth line of Mike Walsh (1 goal 1 assist), Aaron Gagnon (1 goal 1 assist) and Aaron Downey (2 assists). Jan Mursak (2), Logan Pyett (3) and Darren Haydar also scored for Grand Rapids. Jimmy Howard, returned from Detroit earlier in the day made the start stopping 32 of 36 shots for the win. Midway through the first, Aaron Gagnon got the Griffins on the board when he chipped the puck over Tordjman from the edge of the paint. The lead was short-lived however as Peterson eased up on his man next to the net, allowing Kolarik to get off a point blank shot that he stuffed between Howard's pad and the post. Haydar restored the lead a minute and a half later on a 5-on-3 powerplay, letting a point blast go that clinked in off the post past Tordjman. The Rampage tied things up late in the period, taking advantage of some sloppy Griffins play to score a shorthanded goal. Perreault hit Spina with a pass, and he chipped it past a down and Howard. Shots on Goal: GR 9 - San 6. Walsh scored the only goal of the second when he let a rising shot go that just found its way into the top corner under the crossbar. Grand Rapids carried the play most of the period with very little in the way of scoring chances by San Antonio. Shots on Goal: GR 14 - San 8. Pyett hit McGrath with a lead pass for a breakaway, but he couldn't get the shot off quick enough as he went by the net, and it rolled wide. San Antonio picked up the pace and was carrying play for most of the third period. Incredible behind the back pass by Ritola to the late man Mursak who backhanded a shot past Tordjman stick side. Off the next faceoff, Pyett ripped a point shot that found its way in through traffic. San Antonio cut the lead to two when Sullivan got a nice pass in the circle for a backdoor goal. Play is getting chippy with several big scrums after the whistle. Hoggan one on one with Pyett and let a shot go that beat Howard stick side. It was a soft goal, and it looked like this team was about to give away the game. Tordjman to the bench for an extra skater. Haydar had a couple of tries at the empty net but couldn't get it in. A flurry of Rampage chances at the end but Haydar clears the puck and the horn goes. Shots on Goal: GR 7 - San 22. For the Game: GR 30 - San 36. Lines: Oulahen - Emmerton - Haydar Ritola - Abdelkader - Mursak Tardif - Pare - McGrath Walsh - Gagnon - Downey Pairings: Stafford - Jozsa Kolosov - Pyett Peterson - Galvin Starter: Howard Backup: Larsson Scratches: Lemieux - Knee Ericsson - Wrist Kindl PP: Ritola - Abdelkader - Tardif/Pare Haydar - Stafford Emmerton - Pare - McGrath Kolosov - Pyett PK: Oulahen - Gagnon Stafford - Jozsa Haydar - Abdelkader Kolosov - Galvin Ritola - Emmerton Observations: Howard did not look real sharp, and it looked like the team may just give this one away at the end. Luckily they were able to hang on, but the third period was almost their undoing. Credit where credit is due, Haydar has really picked up his game the last week or so and is finally playing like the player that always used to kill us. Hopefully he keeps it up through the playoffs. Official Game Sheet
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Post by Stripe on Feb 22, 2009 15:00:27 GMT -5
Griffins Dump Moose 5-1 Unexpected Offensive Explosion Buries First Place Moose... By Jason Kasiorek www.griffinscentral.comThe Griffins had every excuse to bow down to the visiting Manitoba Moose, but someone forgot to tell that to the players as they exploded for 5 goals to gain a measure of revenge against the 1st place team. Playing without Ville Leino, Darren Helm and Jimmy Howard on loan to Detroit, and Jonathan Ericsson and Mattias Ritola out with injuries, the home team road Daniel larsson, who was too sick to practice earlier in the day, to a surprise win. Captain Darren Haydar had four assists, while Cory Emmerton had a pair of goals. Evan McGrath and Justin Abdelkader also scored for Grand Rapids. Larsson was the surprise starter for the night, as it had been stated earlier that he was too sick to play. He made an incredible stop early to show he was in the game, diving across the crease to just get a piece of the puck and keep it out. The Griffins defense is blanketing the Moose not allowing them to get anything going as evidenced by only one shot on goal in the first nine minutes. Downey batted the puck past Schneider with his hand, and it was called off. Abdelkader dropped the gloves with Jaffrey and came out swinging. Jaffrey got a couple of shots in towards the end, but probably got the worst of it. Pyett gave up the puck at the line trying to clear his own zone, and it ended up in his own net to put GR in a hole 1-0. Haydar had a couple of pokes at the puck in front of the net, and things get a little testy after the whistle. Oulahen comes in to help Haydar who was getting roughed up. Shots on Goal: GR 12 - Man 5. Stafford took a big shot from the corner while shorthanded that was tipped in by Abdelkader for his 19th of the season to tie the game at one. later in the period Emmerton on the powerplay picked his spot and snapped a laser by Schneider, glove side. Off the next faceoff, McGrath took a pass from Lemieux and smoked the puck into the net for his 100th career AHL point. Two minutes later Emmerton streaked in on goal, crashed the net, ran into Schneider, and watched as the puck trickled into the net for his second of the game. After the next faceoff, Downey and Maxwell dropped the gloves for a heavyweight bout at center ice. Downey got a big shot in early that buckled Maxwell's knees and that was all she wrote. Things got rough at the end of the period with another big scrum. Shots on Goal: GR 15 - Man 7. The Moose made a netminder change to start the third as Sanford came in. Garrett Stafford closed out the scoring midway through the third when his powerplay point shot found its way into the net through traffic to make it 5-1. Larsson came up big as time ran down making a juggling save to keep the puck out. Shots on Goal: GR 10 - Man 8. For the Game: GR 37 - Man 20. Lines: Oulahen - Abdelkader - Haydar Lemieux - Pare - McGrath Walsh - Gagnon - Downey/Mursak Tardif - Emmerton - Mursak Pairings: Stafford - Jozsa Kolosov - Pyett Kindl - Galvin Starter: Larsson Backup: #1 Joel Martin Scratches: Ritola - Back Ericsson - Wrist Peterson PP: Oulahen/Emmerton - Abdelkader - Tardif Haydar - Kindl Lemieux - Pare - McGrath Stafford - Haydar PK: Oulahen - Gagnon Galvin - Kindl Tardif - Abdelkader Kolosov - Stafford Haydar - Emmerton Observations: Great game by Grand Rapids, they played a full 60 minutes, and it was their best defensive effort of the season. Justin Abdelkader is looking very confidant, and playing that way as well. Aaron Downey was banging early in the game, but disappeared after his fight in the second. Pyett had a rough night, turning the puck over at his own blueline several times, including the one that made it past Larsson for a goal. Larsson had a bounce back game and came up huge. The effort was even more improbable when you know he was so sick he wasn't even expected to dress earlier in the day. Official Game Sheet
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Post by Stripe on Feb 20, 2009 23:17:45 GMT -5
Great game!!! The boys had every reason to lose, and had one of their best games of the year. Thumbs up to Larsson coming in sick to help out his teammates. I will post my normal report tomorrow afternoon.
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Post by Stripe on Feb 20, 2009 13:30:21 GMT -5
According to the Winnipeg Free Press, goaltender Daniel Larsson is to ill to suit up tonight and is questionable for the rest of the weekend. With Jimmy in Detroit until at least Sunday, this could be a rough home stretch.
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Post by Stripe on Feb 20, 2009 12:10:33 GMT -5
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Post by Stripe on Feb 20, 2009 12:08:04 GMT -5
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