STOCKTON, Calif. – David Rittich stopped all 36 shots he faced on Saturday night at Stockton Arena as the Stockton Heat shutout the Grand Rapids Griffins 4-0.
Heat goalie David Rittich deflects a shot with his blocker in route to a thirty six save shutout – Photo by Jack Lima
The Griffins (2-2-0-0) earned a split in their two-game California road trip this weekend, after having defeated the San Jose Barracuda 7-3 on Friday. Grand Rapids will wrap up its early-season road trip next Friday when the Griffins visit the Rockford Icehogs at 8 p.m. EDT.
Marek Hrivik controls a pass with his skate- Photo by Jack Lima
After scoring seven goals on Friday, the Griffins carried their aggressive play into the opening period by peppering the Stockton (2-1-0-0) netminder with nine of the game’s first 10 shots. Grand Rapids went on to outshoot Stockton, 15-9, but the teams went into the intermission scoreless.
Stockton broke the scoreless tie early in the second period. Just 1:28 into the frame, Andrew Mangiapane made a cross-ice pass to Oliver Kylington who found Mark Jankowski by himself in front of the crease. Griffins goaltender Tom McCollum made the initial save, but was left in a vulnerable position when Jankowski tapped in the rebound for the 1-0 lead.
Tyler Wotherspoon (5) looks to defend a pass from in back of the net – Photo by Jack Lima
Grand Rapids had ample opportunities to even the game, but were unable to solve Rittich. At the 11:57 mark, Eric Tangradi made a slick cross-ice pass to Colin Campbell who was open in the slot, but it was stopped by Rittich’s left skate.
Just 64 seconds later, Joe Hicketts gathered the puck at the right circle and passed it to Dylan McIlrath who had an open slap shot from the high slot. Both the slap shot and the rebound attempt by Matt Carey were turned aside by Rittich.
Mark Jankowski (17) moves the puck up ice as Joe Hicketts (2) defends – Photo by Jack Lima
The Heat took a 2-0 lead into the second intermission thanks to a late goal from Hunter Shinkaruk. With 2:35 left in the period, Ryan Lomberg took a wrist shot from the blue line, but it was deflected by Shinkaruk for his first goal of the year.
Mark Jankowski (17) attempts a wrap around shot on Griffins’ goalie Tom McCollum as Joe Hicketts (2) defends – Photo by Jack Lima
The Heat added on to their lead with 16:23 left in the contest when Marek Hrivik found a trailing Oliver Kylington who sniped the puck past McCollum for a 3-0 lead. Emile Poirier just 52 seconds later converted on a slap shot from the top of the left circle after a turnover in the Grand Rapids zone to mark Stockton’s fourth goal of the evening.
The Griffins’ penalty kill was perfect with a 3-for-3 performance on the night while McCollum stopped 28 shots in a losing effort.
Notes: Grand Rapids was shutout for the first time since April 8, 2017.
Three Stars: 1. STK Rittich (SO, 36 saves); 2. STK Poirier (goal); 3. STK Jankowski (game-winning goal)
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