12/5 GDT: Toronto Marlies 3 @ Grand Rapids Griffins 2 - OT

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Toronto Marlies (9-9-0-2) @ Grand Rapids Griffins (12-5-2-3)

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In this North Division battle, the 5th placed Toronto Marlies head to Van Andel Arena to take on the 3rd ranked Grand Rapids Griffins. The Griffins are 4-0-1 in their past 5 games and will be buoyed by the presence of future HOF defenceman Chris Chelios. Chelios will likely be paired with Jonathan Ericsson in what will be a great learning experience for arguably the Wings top prospect. Chelios is expected to be a major draw-card and the arena should be packed.

The Griffins have been getting their offence from a few different sources of late. Cory Emmerton has 9 points in his last 9 games while Evan McGrath has 6 points in 6 games and is coming off the GWG against Chicago. The second line of Leino/Helm/Haydar has been struggling of late and they are all without a point in at least 3 games. Captain Darren Haydar is also a team worst -10. After recent struggles rookie Justin Abdelkader is back on track and has 4 points in 5 games.

Probable line-up:

McGrath - Abdelkader - Downey
Leino - Helm - Haydar
Ritola - Emmerton - Tardif
Mursak - Gagnon - Oulahen

Chelios - Ericsson
Galvin - Kindl
Stafford - Jozsa

Howard
Larsson

Team Leaders:

Goals: Haydar, Abdelkader (9) Wilson (8)
Assists: Leino (16), Helm (13)
Points: Leino (20), Helm (18)
Penalty Minutes: Wilson (37), Abdelkader (33)

Notes:

• With his conditioning stint, Chris Chelios will line-up in the AHL for the first time in his career.
• Concerns over Leino’s recent play as he has seemingly shelved the attacking game which won him success early in the season.
• Evan McGrath has recently been rewarded with his strong play and has spent time on the team’s top line.

TV/Radio:

Internet stream: Pay-per-view AHL Live

Radio: Grand Rapids Broadcast: Radio feed

Box scores: Box scores

Edited December 5, 2008 by Aussie_Wing

[Johnny Law 15]

• Evan McGrath has recently been rewarded with his strong play and has spent time on the team’s top line.

Good to see, for some reason I always felt like he wasn't getting a fair shot.

[uk_redwing 495]

Downey on the first line...what a god.

[ArcticWing 0]

Thanks for the radio feed!

[Aussie_Wing 354]

No score at the end of 1, shots 12-11 in favour of Toronto. Somewhat surprisingly, Larsson is in net.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

It's 2-2 with just over 3 minutes remaining in the 3rd. Griffins on a PP! Shots 34-22 in favour of Toronto.

Scoring summary for the Griffins:

2. GR Helm, (6) (Stafford, Kindl), 17:26 (PP)

3. GR Tardif, (4) (Abdelkader, Chelios), 8:32

Big chance to take the lead here!

[Coyote0106 2]

The ice was bad, the team was worse. I don't know if they were nervous around Chelios, or what, but they stunk. I'm thinking that cumulative we got about 15 min of effort out of the entire club. The passes were off, the shots were few, from the outside, and off target. They didn't hit, they didn't fight for anything in the boards. Ericsson left in the 3rd, and never came back out. I hope he isn't out with anything serious.

Chelios got beat 3 times, once he fell, the others was just a young kid with speed skating right by him. On the last one (in OT) Newburry beat him, Chelios hooked him so he wouldn't get a breakaway, and that was the call. The crowd was mad, but he did it. He used his head alot, so he wasn't caught out of position....he is just slow though.

Larsson should have had some help tonight. He made some amazing saves, just to have his team stand there and watch. He got no support. He was the only one to try.

[Nightfall 871]

The Griffins played very average. Chelios played pretty well overall. I also agree he was a little slower than a few of the younger players. However, he played solid and even got an assist. I was pretty disappointed with the way the Griffins played overall though. They were getting beat in the battles to the puck. The only Griffin I thought that played VERY well was their goaltender. Larson was great in net considering what he had to work with. I just hope they play better tomorrow.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Thanks for the recaps Coyote and Nightfall. What you have said seems to be reoccurring themes from this game. I’ve read that the energy levels were low and we only stayed in the game due to the stellar goaltending of Larsson. I guess 3 games in 3 nights and then a reasonably long layoff just took it’s toll. I’m sure they’ll put in a better effort tomorrow.

And how was Kindl? If Ericsson is out he'll probably take over as the #1 defenceman.