News

MacLean lifts Griffins to seventh straight

by theahl

The Grand Rapids Griffins squeezed by the Toronto Marlies on Saturday with a 4-3 overtime win at Van Andel Arena.

Donald MacLean scored his League leading 52nd goal of the season 2:59 into overtime to give the Griffins their seventh straight win.

Toronto’s Brett Engelhardt started the scoring with a shorthanded goal at the 1:34 mark of the first period. Grand Rapids responded with a power play goal by Jiri Hudler and a shorthanded goal by Matt Ellis to head into the first intermission with a 2-1 lead.

The teams traded goals in the second period. Jeff Corey scored his first professional goal in his first professional game at the 5:59 mark of the period. The Griffins quickly regained the lead when Tomas Kopecky answered for Griffins just 20 seconds later.

John Pohl tied the game and forced overtime with 2:06 remaining in third period.

Griffins goaltender Jimmy Howard made 24 saves on 27 shots to earn his 21st win of the season.

Grand Rapids (49-16-1-4, 103 pts.) leads the American Hockey League in points and has won nine of its last 10 games. Toronto (34-25-5-2, 75 pts.) is currently in fourth place in the North Division.

Elsewhere on Saturday:

  • David LeNeveu made 53 saves earning his second shutout of the season to lead San Antonio to a 3-0 win over Houston.
  • Alexandre Giroux scored three times for Hartford as the Wolf Pack clinched a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division with a 5-4 win over Norfolk.
  • Zenith Komarniski scored the overtime winner to give Omaha a 2-1 win over Milwaukee.
  • Frederic Cassivi made 32 saves on 33 shots in Hershey’s 2-1 win over Albany, the Bears’ 13th consecutive victory over the River Rats.
  • Portland beat Bridgeport 5-2, powered by two goals by Zenon Konopka.
  • Two goals by Grant Potulny lifted Binghamton over Philadelphia, 3-2.
  • Martin Prusek stopped all 32 shots he faced to earn his second shutout of the season in Syracuse’s 2-0 win over Peoria.
  • Scott Barney scored twice, including the game-winning-goal, in Chicago’s 4-2 win over Manitoba.
  • Jonathan Sigalet scored two goals for Providence in the Bruins 7-1 win over Springfield.