Game 1 GDT: Grand Rapids 4 @ Hamilton 3

[Aussie_Wing 354]

GAME 1: Grand Rapids Griffins @ Hamilton Bulldogs

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The Griffins begin their playoff campaign tomorrow with a trip to Hamilton to take on the surging Bulldogs. Dick Axelsson signed an ATO with Griffins and is expected to be in the line-up tonight. For comparisons sake, Hamilton scored 263 goals in the regular seasonand conceded 201, while the Griffins scored 255 and gave up 226.

The Griffins were once challenging for the top spot in the league but after a very poor latter half of the season they finished 8th overall. Injuries to key players and call-ups to the Wings cost them down the stretch. McGrath and Tardif are likely to miss tonight while Ryan Oulahen is out for the season. But with talents like Axlesson, Andersson and Lashoff recently signing big things could be in store. They do have a lot of rookies in the line-up though and how they perform will reflect on the teams performance. Good luck Griffins, lets steal one on the road!

Possible line-up:

Leino - Abdelkader - Haydar
McCarty - Gagnon - Ritola
Axelsson - Pare - Lemieux
Mursak - Andersson - Emmerton

Stafford - Lashoff
Galvin - Kindl
Kolosov - Peterson

Howard
Pearce

Regular Season Leaders:

Goals: Haydar (31), Abdelkader, Pare (24)
Assists: Haydar (49), Stafford (34)
Points: Haydar (80), Abdelkader (52)
PIM: Downey (126), Abdelkader (102)
Plus/Minus: Pare (23), 3 tied (12)

[uk_redwing 495]

Downey for the GWG!

[pinkprincess027 0]

We win 4-3! Goals from McCarty, Andersson, Abdelkader, Haydar.

The line of McCarty, Andersson, Ritola sounded like they really clicked in the first period. They had two goals in the first seven minutes.

I was excited to see Axelsson next week, I saw him play at training camp and was quite impressed, but they said he wasn't playing and has a broken finger and they aren't sure if he will play.

[SDavis35 140]

I was there tonight

Lots of fun, also of note Yzerman, Holland and Fisher were there. Wish I had the time to get to say hi.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Wow! Did not expect them to win! That is an absolutely fantastic result for the young Griffins team.

Real pleased to see Andersson get a goal which will do wonders for his confidence. Abdelkader is just a very, very good hockey player and starts out his pro playoff career with a goal and assist.

I don't expect them to win Game 2 but at least they took one on the road. Great start Griffins!

[Coyote0106 2]

Now we are guaranteed to see the Griffs atleast 3 more times at home. Sweet!