CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Behind a trio of second-period goals and Jared Coreau stopping all 29 shots he faced, the Grand Rapids Griffins won their seventh consecutive game, blanking the Charlotte Checkers 4-0 on Friday at Bojangles’ Coliseum.
Robbie Russo recorded the primary assist on all three tallies in the middle frame as he improved his plus/minus rating to a league-best +40, while Coreau earned his fifth shutout of the campaign and second straight away from Van Andel Arena. The Griffins have a rematch with the Checkers at Bojangles’ Coliseum on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Eric Tangradi started the scoring for the Griffins (35-20-1-1) with 5:59 remaining in the opening period. Andy Miele’s pass from the left corner found Tangradi at the bottom of the left circle, who threaded the needle with a shot that went off Daniel Altshuller’s right arm and in at the near post.
Tomas Nosek added to the Griffins’ advantage 1:19 into the middle frame. Nosek’s blind, between-the-legs centering pass from behind the Charlotte net was intended for Martin Frk in front, but bounced off Trevor Carrick’s stick and in at the right post.
Anthony Mantha made it a three-goal cushion at the 6:01 mark. A perfect feed from Russo at the right point reached Mantha at the top of the left circle for a partial breakaway. After initially winding up for a slapshot, Mantha moved from forehand to backhand, breezing past the Charlotte netminder’s outstretched left pad and tapping the puck into an open net for his 18th of the season.
The Griffins added a fourth goal with 8:29 remaining in the second. Shortly after a John Hagel interference minor expired, Xavier Ouellet’s wrist shot from the right point changed direction in front, going past the glove of a sliding Altshuller. That proved to be the end of the night for Altshuller, who was replaced by John Muse.
Grand Rapids was unable to convert on four power play opportunities, snapping a five-game streak in which the Griffins had scored on the man advantage. Charlotte (27-23-3-3) failed to score on three chances. Altshuller stopped 14 of 18 shots, while Muse turned aside all 12 attempts in relief.
Three Stars: 1. GR Coreau (W, 29 saves, SO); 2. GR Russo (three assists); 3. GR Mantha (goal)
Notes: Brian Lashoff played his 250th game as a Griffin on Friday…Six Griffins alumni were named on Wednesday to preliminary rosters for the World Cup of Hockey 2016, which will be played Sept. 17-Oct. 1 in Toronto. The list includes: Petr Mrazek (Czech Republic), Tomas Tatar (Europe), Valtteri Filppula (Finland), Dylan Larkin (North America), Niklas Kronwall (Sweden), and Justin Abdelkader (USA)
With Griffins game report
You must be logged in to post a comment.