WOOD Radio Local News

WOOD Radio Local News

WOOD Radio Local News

 

Griffins rally to defeat the Eagles, 3-2, on opening night of season

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- It was a game of perserverance Friday night at Van Andel Arena.

In front of a raucous opening-night crowd of more than 10,100 vocal fans, the Griffins were outshot early on, 18-4, as the Colorado Eagles dominated the first period.

It was all Eagles in the first frame, as the Griffins didn't get off their first shot of the game until the 10:35 mark. But it was 1-1 when they skated off the ice after the opening period.

Colorado continued to buzz the Grand Rapids goal, and led in shots on net, 12-1, at one point. But it was the Griffins who drew first blood with 6:40 to go in the opening frame with Austin Czarnik scoring the first goal of the season. Assisting on the goal was Taro Hirose, along with Brogan Rafferty.

Moments later, the Eagles countered with a goal by Peter Holland that deflected in behind Michael Hutchinson, who otherwise withstood a first-period flurry of shots by Colorado to keep Grand Rapids in the game. Ivan Ivan had the assist.

In the second stanza, the Griffins killed off one penalty, but the Eagles later converted on their second power play after a penalty against Grand Rapids' Joel L'Esperance. Jack Ahcan batted the puck into the Griffins' net when it bounced up in the air off his skate. Oskar Olausson was credited with the assist.

The Griffins' Dominik Shine was given a two-minute cross-checking penalty with four minutes left in the second period. At that point, the Eagles held a 29-11 shots-on-goal advantage. The Griffins killed off the power play and then pressured Colorado goalie Trent Miner with about two minutes left in the 2nd period as the puck squirted around the blue paint in front of the Eagles' net.

The crowd booed loudly as some Eagles laid on top of a couple Griffins in the crease following a net-front skirmish. Both teams got roughing penalties after that. The period ended with Colorado leading, 2-1, thanks to the power-play goal. They led in shots on goal through two periods, 32-13.

When the 3rd period resumed, the Griffins' Simon Edvinsson and the Eagles Oskar Olausson still had :47 seconds left to serve on their respective penalties.

It took just :07 seconds for the Griffins to score at the start of the 3rd period. Left wing Taro Hirose stuffed it home to knot the score at 2-2. Austin Czarnik and Albert Johansson assisted. It was an even-strength goal, with each team having a man in the penalty box at the time.

The Eagles' Tanner Kero received a penalty with 13:22 left in regulation.The Griffins didn't convert on that opportunity, but they lit the lamp on another power play a few minutes later, at the 8:25 mark. Olausson had gone to the penalty box for high-sticking just a moment before. Once again, it was Hirose swatting the puck home out of the air for the Griffins' goal. Elmer Soderblom and Jonatan Berggren got the assists.

Still trailing in shots on goal, 36-25, the Griffins then led where it counts on the scoreboard, 3-2.

Hutchinson was sterling in net, and made a sprawling save with 1:20 left in the game, as a shot puck bounced off his body and rolled toward the goal line. He niftily reached back and grabbed it as several Eagles converged on the cage.

Considering the Eagles absolutely blitzed the net in the first period and had a 2-1 lead at one point, it had to be a very satisfying conquest for the Griffins and new head coach Dan Watson in his first regular-season game behind the Grand Rapids bench. The Griffins won, 3-2, as the crowd roared their appreciation. Hutchinson racked up 40 saves in goal, but Hirose was the number one star of the night with two goals and an assist.

The same two teams will do battle Saturday night at Van Andel Arena. The puck will drop at 7 o'clock, and the pre-game coverage will begin at 6:45 on WOOD Radio. The Griffins will travel out to Colorado next weekend to play the Eagles there.

###

Dan Watson behind the bench for his first game as head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins.Photo: All photos by Steve Katerberg

Taro Hirose scores his second goal of the game.


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content