11/7 GDT: Lake Erie Monsters @ Grand Rapids Griffins

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Lake Erie Monsters (4-5-1) @ Grand Rapids Griffins (4-1-3)

@

The Lake Erie Monsters come to town to take on the Griffins for the third time already in this young season. The Griffins have had another long lay off having been inactive for almost a week. In their previous two encounters, and incidentally their first two games of the season, the Griffins claimed 3 of a possible 4 points.

Rookie Justin Abdelkader has recently been named the AHL rookie of the month and is 4th in rookie scoring despite having only played 8 games. Ville Leino's 13 points puts him in a tie for 6th in the league.

Probable line-up:

Leino - Helm - Haydar
Mursak - Pare - Abdelkader
Ritola - Emmerton - Wilson
Gagnon - Oulahen - Downey

Ericsson - Jozsa
Kindl - Galvin
Stafford - Kolosov

Howard
Larsson

Team Leaders:

Goals: Abdelkader (7)
Assists: Leino (9)
Points: Leino (13)
Penalty Minutes: Abdelkader, Wilson (17)

Notes:

• Jimmy Howard has been playing strong of late and will most likely get the start tomorrow.
• The Griffins haven't managed a win from their past 3 outings.

[Coyote0106 2]

Here's a nice little article that pretty much sums up Lake Erie for us.

http://www.mlive.com/griffins/index.ssf/20...miliar_opp.html

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Griffins up 2-1 after 2 periods. Not much to say as far as our prospects, except that Howard has 18 saves on 19 shots and Helm has another assist.

Ville Leino is out of the line-up...?

[FinRedWing 172]

Griffins up 2-1 after 2 periods. Not much to say as far as our prospects, except that Howard has 18 saves on 19 shots and Helm has another assist.

Ville Leino is out of the line-up...?

Just noticed that too. Maybe a small injury?

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Just noticed that too. Maybe a small injury?

Seems strange. The Griffins had 6 days off and I don't recall him suffering an injury in their previous game.

Griffins just scored! Helm!

And Mursak has his first point of the season!

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Well it was a beatdown in the end, Griffins win 5-1! After falling behind after 1 period they sure did turn it on.

2. GR Tardif, (2) (McGrath), 1:47

2. GR Haydar, (4) (Wilson, Helm), 5:19 (PP)

3. GR Helm, (1) (Pyett, Mursak), 5:35

3. GR Wilson, (6) (Haydar, Stafford), 12:14 (PP)

3. GR Pare, (3) (Kolosov, McGrath), 17:09

Very pleased for a few reasons. Helm continues to dominate having now scored 9 points in 8 games. One of my favourite prospects in Jan Mursak got his first point and Sergei Kolosov got an assist and was +2. For a big, raw defenceman he's been quite promising and is now a +3 for the season.

And fantastic to see Evan McGrath on the board with 2 assists, I really hope that gets his confidence up.

Jimmy Howard saved 28 of 29 shots and was the games 3rd star. Also worth noting Cory Emmerton was a healthy scratch.

[Coyote0106 2]

This game really was all Jimmy. He did everything in his power to win it. He made some great saves, and his one goal was just one helluva shot. I definitely don't blame him for not being able to stop it.

In the 1st, Mursak had his most impressive shift. He got back defensively to prevent a rush, then made some nice passes and moves in the offensive end. He really does back-check well. He got a little too pretty in the 3rd, and ended up getting sat down, but that comes with the territory. He looked really good tonight.

Abdelkader is great with deflections. He is in a pack of people, and is still able to get his stick on the puck to deflect it.

Kindl made a couple nice plays to cover for his D partner. Ericsson made a lot of small mistakes, but nothing major.

Overall, it was a good game for this team. They didn't let the goal get to them, and fought back for a big win. The have got much better defensively, and Howard isn't having any bad games (yet) like he did last year.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Thanks as usual! Loving these great recaps!

Howard's off to a real solid start and he must really want that back-up job in Detroit next season. I can't see us re-signing Conklin if Howard shows improvement and greater consistency this season. So far, so good.

Lots of positives to come from this game.

[Coyote0106 2]

And it was posted in the general discussion that Leino was out with a "sore hip"

[uk_redwing 495]

Come on Downs...you can at least get an assist...

Nice to see Jamie Tardif get a goal aswell.

[Coyote0106 2]

Come on Downs...you can at least get an assist...

Nice to see Jamie Tardif get a goal aswell.

It'd be really nice to see him get a point, but I'm happy even if he doesn't. The element he brings to this team is amazing. It is very much like McCarty did last year. He might not have a C or an A but he is without question one of the leaders in the dressing room. He talks to the young guys that have had a bad shift, he rallies the troops....He then goes out throws a couple big hits, and stands up for his teammate. I'm THRILLED to have him on this team.

[j.hoop 64]

alright griffins!!

[pinkprincess027 0]

Come on Downs...you can at least get an assist...

Nice to see Jamie Tardif get a goal aswell.

I was sitting right by the penalty box last night and I was very tempted to lean over to it and tell him that we wanted to see a goal from him last night. At one point some people in another section had a Downey chant going on.

It'd be really nice to see him get a point, but I'm happy even if he doesn't. The element he brings to this team is amazing. It is very much like McCarty did last year. He might not have a C or an A but he is without question one of the leaders in the dressing room. He talks to the young guys that have had a bad shift, he rallies the troops....He then goes out throws a couple big hits, and stands up for his teammate. I'm THRILLED to have him on this team.

In the games I have been to Downey and Landon Wilson are the two players that I have noticed to be the most vocal. But Downey is much more so than Wilson. He is consistently encouraging everyone, and talking to everyone including the coach- who appears to listen to always listen to what he has to say, unlike a few games agowhen I watched Ericsson try and talk to the coach he was ignored

[Coyote0106 2]

Yeah, I'm in 108, so I heard those Downey chants....and the "make my sheets soft" stuff, too. That was humorous.

And that is interesting the coach ignored Ericsson. I don't pay much attention to the coach this year, but as long as he isn't like last years, I'm happy.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Griffins with 2 early goals tonight against Peoria.

1. GR Kindl, (2) (Pare, Ritola), 6:45 (PP)

1. GR McGrath, (1) (Pare, Ericsson), 7:28 (PP)

Two of my favourites on the scoreboard early.

[Coyote0106 2]

I missed how the Downey fight turned out. The radio just made it sound like a one-hitter from Downey.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

I missed how the Downey fight turned out. The radio just made it sound like a one-hitter from Downey.

Mursak has been scratched tonight, a bit disappointed to be honest. But it goes to show how much offensive firepower we have, quite insane.

[Coyote0106 2]

You know, it really is. McGrath had a really good game last night, so he probably got the nod tonight because of that.

But then again, Mursak had a good one, too. It has to be hard to juggle all these offensive players.

[Coyote0106 2]

This could have been a real costly loss. Howard got hit, Snitzer came out and looked at him, and he finished the second period. He was replaced to start the third. Hopefully it is nothing serious.