Griffins have successful weekend

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich – The Grand Rapids Griffins finished out their five-game homestand with two victories over the Toronto Marlies this weekend.

Darren McCarty contributed the only regulation goal for the Griffins on Friday, and Ville Leino and Darren Haydar each netted one goal in the shootout win, with Evan McGrath scoring the game-winning goal in the eighth round.   The game was tied 1-1 after regulation and the five-minute four-on-four sudden death overtime.   Goalie Jimmy Howard added his 19^th win of the season, and Marlie’s goalie, Justin Pogge took the loss, allowing the puck to slip past him only two times.   The Griffins also won 3-2 Sunday against their hosts, the Lake Erie Monsters, giving them a weekend total of five points in the North Division AHL standings.   The Grand Rapids club further cemented their second-place spot and increased the distance between the Griffins and the Hamilton Bulldogs, currently in the division’s third spot. Thanks to the efforts of Ville Leino, Darren Haydar, Ryan Oulahen (one goal apiece) and Darren Helm, Darren McCarty and Justin Abdelkader for their aggressiveness, puck handling, hard hits and grit on Saturday night, the Griffins celebrated their 3-2 win in regulation, with Darren Haydar scoring the game-winning goal.   Daniel Larsson added win number 22 to his record, as he stopped 24 out of 26 shots on goal.   The most remarkable observation of this game was the absence of called penalties – the first-ever such game for the Griffins organization and an extremely rare occurrence in pro hockey.   While the Grand Rapids fans seemed quite reserved, the Griffins demonstrated their determination tosweep the two-game series against the Marlies.   There were a number of wicked slap shots, legal hits that left their victims eating snow while lying flat out on the ice, and a hint of flaring tempers evident from both teams, most noticeably when the opposing team relentlessly peppered the defending goalie with shots on goal.
Friday’s game was labeled “Hokey Pokey” night, where the Griffs fans attempted to set the world record for the largest circle dance.   It’s unclear if enough people participated to claim success.   Saturday’s game celebrated West Michigan’s own, rookie Justin Abdelkader from Muskegon, Michigan, who recently tied a Griffins rookie record set in 1996-97 with his 22^nd goal of the season during the March 13th game against the Peoria Rivermen and took over sole possession of second place on the Griffin’s all-time rookie scoring record with 48 points.   He ranks third on the AHL’s rookie goals and points lists. Abdelkader signed with Detroit after his junior year at Michigan State, giving him an opportunity to be part of the Red Wings’ successful Stanley Cup run at the end of the 2007-08 NHL season.   Securing a limited edition Justin Abdelkader bobblehead was the main objective for droves of Muskegon hockey fans, who had to make the choice between the Griffins game and the Muskegon Lumberjack’s home game against the IHL’sleague-leading team, the Port Huron Icehawks. The Griffins have won six and lost four of their last ten games.  There are two weeks left in the AHL’s regular season, and nine games remain for the Griffins, with eight of them away from the friendly home-ice of VanAndel Arena.  The Griffins have sole possession in 2nd place for their division, lagging four points behind the first place Manitoba Moose and five points ahead of the Hamilton, Ontario Bulldogs.  With the Griffins and the Moose being the top teams in their division, they could very likely meet in the playoffs.  When they do, expect the games to be close, hard-fought battles, as the Moose and the Griffins split their 2008-09 season series evenly at two games apiece. Contact the author at jennifer.sleeper@prohockeynews.com.