Griffins take divisional battle over Marlies, 5-3


Wednesday’s Boxscores

GRAND RAPIDS 5, TORONTO 3
Carl Corazzini extended his goal-scoring streak to four games as Grand Rapids downed visiting Toronto by a 5-3 final on Wednesday at Van Andel Arena.

Third-year pro Ryan Oulahen set a career high with his 12th marker of the season for the Griffins 45 seconds into the third period, and it turned out to be the game-winner.

The Griffins matched a season high with their third straight victory and evened their season series with the Marlies at two games apiece.

Mattias Ritola, Mark Cullen, and Darren Helm also lit the lamp in the winning effort, and defenseman Jason Jozsa chipped in a pair of assists.

Goaltender Adam Berkhoel stopped 22 of 25 shots in the win, which upped his season record to 8-10-3.

Andy Wozniewski posted a goal and an assist for the Marlies, while Michel Leveille and Tyler Doig also scored.


LOWELL 4, HERSHEY 1
Lowell scored four goals in the third period and took a 4-1 victory over visiting Hershey at the Tsongas Arena.

After both teams went scoreless through the first 40 minutes, Lowell defenseman Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre put the Devils on top at 6:29 of the third period. Ivan Khomutov followed just 1:02 later, and Mark Fraser’s first AHL goal of the season made it 3-0 at 13:40.

Mike Pandolfo tallied an empty-net goal in the closing seconds, and goaltender Dave Caruso won his third straight start by stopping 40 of 41 shots.

Bears center Kyle Wilson ended Caruso’s shutout bid with 2:22 left in the third period, scoring his 21st goal of the season.


NORFOLK 4, WORCESTER 0
Goaltender Marc Denis made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season as Norfolk posted a 4-0 road win over Worcester at the DCU Center.

Matt Smaby, Radek Smolenak, Bracken Kearns, and 2008 AHL All-Star Justin Keller all scored for the Admirals, who concluded a nine-game road trip at 3-5-0-1.

Smaby’s goal was his first of the season and the third of his two-year AHL career. Of those three goals, two have been scored at the DCU Center. His last marker came against Worcester on Jan. 3, 2007, as a member of Springfield.

With the regulation loss, the Sharks’ four-game points streak (3-0-0-1) came to an end.


ALBANY 4, BINGHAMTON 1
Albany broke a 1-1 deadlock with three third-period goals on its way to a 4-1 road victory over Binghamton at the Broome County Arena.

Jakub Petruzalek, Kiel McLeod, and Joe Jensen netted third-period markers for the River Rats, making a winner of goaltender Michael Leighton, who had 28 saves.

Albany defenseman Steve Ward netted his first career AHL goal in the victory. The River Rats have secured their first eight-game winning streak in more than 10 years, as the last one came in February 1998.

Justin Mapletoft initially gave the Senators a 1-0 lead at 9:45 of the first period.


ROCKFORD 3, PEORIA 2
Martin St. Pierre notched a pair of goals to lead Rockford over visiting Peoria by a 3-2 final at the MetroCentre.

St. Pierre, a three-time AHL All-Star, scored his 17th and 18th goals of the season, both coming in the first period. Troy Brouwer assisted on both markers.

Jake Dowell gave the IceHogs a 3-0 advantage at 2:13 of the second period.

Peoria got on the board midway through the third, as Nicholas Drazenovic netted a power play goal. Charles Linglet made it a one-goal game with 1:46 to play, but the Rivermen still saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.

IceHogs goaltender Wade Flaherty earned the victory with 43 saves.


SAN ANTONIO 4, PROVIDENCE 1
San Antonio scored four times in the third period, storming back from a 1-0 deficit to take a 4-1 win over visiting Providence at the AT&T Center.

With the game scoreless entering the final stanza, Providence’s Jeff Hoggan put the B’s on top with a power play goal at 1:23 of the third.

2008 AHL All-Star Joey Tenute tallied the equalizer for the Rampage at 8:34, and Peter Vandermeer notched the eventual game-winner at 14:06, his first goal of the campaign. Matt Murley and Jon DiSalvatore also scored in the stanza.

Rampage goaltender Al Montoya picked up the victory with 32 saves on 33 shots.

Providence is now winless in four straight games (0-3-1-0) for the first time all season.