12/6 GDT: Hamilton Bulldogs 5 @ Grand Rapids Griffins 2

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Hamilton Bulldogs (14-8-1-0) @ Grand Rapids Griffins (12-5-3-3)

@

On the back of last nights OT loss, the Griffins have moved into outright 2nd place in the North Division. Their opponents, the Hamilton Bulldogs, are a mere one point behind so this looms as a crucial match. The Griffins have earned at least 1 point from their past 6 games while the Bulldogs are on a three game losing streak.

The Bulldogs have a few highly rated rookies including Ben Maxwell, Max Pacioretty and former defensive teammate of Kindl in Yannick Weber. 26 year old Yanick Lehoux is also one of the leagues leading scorers. Leino is still the Griffins leading point scorer but has gone pointless in 4 games and is without a goal in his past 17 games. This will likely be Chelios’ final game in a Griffins uniform as he is likely to be re-called to Detroit following the game.

Probable line-up:

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

Ericsson - Chelios
Galvin - Kindl
Stafford - Kolosov

Howard
Larsson

Team Leaders:

Goals: Haydar, Abdelkader (9) Wilson (8)
Assists: Leino (16), Helm (13)
Points: Leino (20), Helm (19)
Penalty Minutes: Wilson (37), Abdelkader (35)

Notes:

• Chris Chelios made his AHL debut last night and finished with an assist and 2 PIM’s.
• Darren Helm snapped a 5 game goalless streak last night.
• Rookie Justin Abdelkader is on a three game point streak.

TV/Radio:

Internet stream: Pay-per-view AHL Live

Radio: Grand Rapids Broadcast: Radio feed

Box Scores

[uk_redwing 495]

Downey ended his 2 game point streak last night

He'll get a gordie howe tonight to compensate...

[sjradio 0]

In case you were all interested \

Chelios was wearing the number 22,

7 is already taken, and number 24 is retired by the Griffins.

[Coyote0106 2]

I wont make it tonight, so hopefully some of the faithful in the arena can give me a quick rundown.

[sjradio 0]

I have no idea why this in an 8:00 PM start, Hamilton did not play last night, so there shouldn't have been any issue with travel.

there was nothing on the Van Andel Arena schedule for today other than the game.

It's not on TV, so I just don't know why they had to start it at 8:00

If the only reason for the 8PM start is that girl from the Hannah Montana show than I am really disappointed

[Aussie_Wing 354]

I have no idea why this in an 8:00 PM start, Hamilton did not play last night, so there shouldn't have been any issue with travel.

there was nothing on the Van Andel Arena schedule for today other than the game.

It's not on TV, so I just don't know why they had to start it at 8:00

If the only reason for the 8PM start is that girl from the Hannah Montana show than I am really disappointed

Miley sure is a star isn't she!

What a start for the Griffins. 1-0 inside of a minute.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Emmerton! First AHL goal!

Griffins down 3-2 with 6 minutes remaining in the 2nd. Shots 22-15 in favour of Hamilton.

[uk_redwing 495]

Downey and Abdelkader both getting a fight in the 2nd.

[Nightfall 871]

Ok, my thoughts on the game and then I am crashing for the night.

Chelios looked pretty good again today. The Griffins as a whole however didn't play well. Their passes were off and they weren't playing as a team. The only difference this time was Hamilton had much better opportunities to score and cashed in 5 times. Jimmy Howard kept his team in it and I couldn't have asked more from him. The goaltender for Hamilton outplayed Howard though. Howard got scored on 4 times due to rebounds. The Hamilton goaltender only 2 times. The shots were tough though and as a goalie, I can't fault Howard totally because his D has to be there for him. Hamiltons D was very aggressive.

I don't know if it was Chelios causing the Griffins to not play their game, but they didn't play very well this weekend and deserved only 1 point from the OT loss they got on Friday night.

[uk_redwing 495]

The Downey - Henry fight:

[Coyote0106 2]

I have no idea why this in an 8:00 PM start, Hamilton did not play last night, so there shouldn't have been any issue with travel.

there was nothing on the Van Andel Arena schedule for today other than the game.

Kaser said there was a GVSU graduation at the arena, and they had to make sure the arena was "cleaned up" for the game.... hence the delayed start.

[GROwl 5]

Yeah - last year, GVSU also held their winter graduation there the first Saturday of December. Last year, my kid played at the Van Andel Arena just before the Griffins' game, and his game time was adjusted also so that the arena could be picked up in between events. I thought it kind of funny - do guests for college graduations buy beer and popcorn for the ceremony - and then leave their trash behind?

I didn't go to either of my college graduation ceremonies - I thought it would be stuffy and boring. Maybe I missed out on a good time...doubt it.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

The Downey - Henry fight:

That was a great fight, draw because they both landed some bombs.

[CapnSmitty 39]

The late start was indeed for the GVSU Winter Commencement, and as being one of the people who are involved with setting up the Friday night changeover going from a Hockey Rink, to a Commencement, back to a hockey rink, let me tell you, to actually be able to only have to move the game back an hour is a true test of the Arena Staff, I am just involved in the video side, and it takes nearly 5 or more hours to do the switch...

That being said, from my Vantage point, being the Director of Inhouse Video, I can say that was by far the worst game the Griffins played thus far...

I do think it had some things to do with Chelli, but only because alot of our players you could tell were not used to playing with him, and to me he is definitly starting to show his age, as he was CLEANLY beaten to alot of pucks, and was out muscled a couple times in the corners...

Downeys fight was good, they definitly has some punches being thrown...

but I LOVED the Abdelkader Fight, Justin definitly went wild and threw some huge haymakers and pretty much didnt even let the Bulldog he was fighting any room to breathe...

Check out either Griffinshockey dot com or youtube dot com /griffvision for the highlights

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Pretty disappointing two games for the Griffins. And to add insult to injury, Ericsson is out for a week.