North Division Finals Game 1: Grand Rapids @ Manitoba

[Aussie_Wing 354]

GAME 1: Grand Rapids Griffins @ Manitoba Moose
7:30 pm CDT



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The North Division Finals get underway tonight as the travelling Griffins take on Manitoba. The Griffins will hope to continue their perfect 3-0 road playoff record and get off to a quick start in the series. The Moose finished with the best record in the American Hockey League this season so this will prove to be a very tough test for a young Griffins team. In the first round of the playoffs the Griffins got incredible scoring from their first line of Leino - Abdelkader - Haydar as the trio combined for 31 points. Secondary scoring will be needed if they are to win this series, and that includes Ritola who went pointless in the last 5 games of the series and Pare who was goaless. Emmerton and Mursak only chipped in a single point in 8 games so the rookies will need to be at the top of their games.

There will be an interesting showdown in net between Jimmy Howard and the much hyped Cory Schneider. In the first round Howard posted numbers of 2.49 GAA and 0.891 S% while Schneider was 1.98 GAA and 0.925 S%. Once again the Griffins, and Red Wings, will be looking for Howard to come up big and steal the series.

Team Comparison:

4-2 Win-Loss: 4-2
22 Goals For: 21
15 Goals Against: 12
86 PIM: 82

Playoff Leaders:

Leino (13), Haydar (10) Points: Krog (8), Desbiens (7)
Abdelkader (6), Haydar (4) Goals: Jaffray (5), Desbiens (3)
Leino (10), Haydar (6) Assists: krog (6), Cullen (5)
Abdelkader (15), Downey (13) PIM: PC Labrie (31), Desbiens (10)
Leino, Haydar (5) Plus/Minus: Cullen (5), 3 tied (4)

Projected line-up:

Leino - Abdelkader - Haydar
Tardif - Gagnon - Downey
Ritola - Andersson - McCarty
Emmerton - Pare - Mursak

Kolosov - Jozsa
Kindl - Galvin
Lashoff - Stafford

Howard
Larsson

[kwingfan 0]

go Griffs! me and the wife will be there on monday. hopefully GR is up 2 games to 0 by then

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Being outshot 13-3 after 1 period but...

1. GR Pare, (1) (Jozsa, Mursak), 18:04

Mursak wasn't even on the playoff roster not long ago and now he seems to be a permanent part of the team.

[Guest mindfly]

How did it go?

[Nightfall 871]

Griffins lost 2-1. Moose got 2 goals in the first 3 minutes of the 3rd. This series is going to go 6 games I think. If they are as tight as this game was scorewise, its anyone's series.

[uk_redwing 495]

2 - GR Downey, 13:52 - Roughing , 2 min

2 - GR Downey, 13:52 - Major - Charging (43.3), 5 min (PP)

2 - MTB Labrie, 13:52 - Roughing , 2 min

yehhhh my boy Downey made some ***** eat some charge! (no goal was scored on the 5 min powerplay)

[Stegallfan 0]

2 - GR Downey, 13:52 - Roughing , 2 min

2 - GR Downey, 13:52 - Major - Charging (43.3), 5 min (PP)

2 - MTB Labrie, 13:52 - Roughing , 2 min

yehhhh my boy Downey made some ***** eat some charge! (no goal was scored on the 5 min powerplay)

That "*****" was goaltender Schneider and that ***** downey will be eating plenty of fist before this game is over he got a nice shower of beer as he was escorted off the ice and got plenty of boo's for his only shift in the third for doing something as stupid as running over the goalie

[uk_redwing 495]

That "*****" was goaltender Schneider and that ***** downey will be eating plenty of fist before this game is over he got a nice shower of beer as he was escorted off the ice and got plenty of boo's for his only shift in the third for doing something as stupid as running over the goalie

Hahahaaa what a legend Downey is! And where was all the fist Downey was supposed to eat? You're team is weak and are obviously scared of a true NHL heavyweight.

[Stegallfan 0]

Hahahaaa what a legend Downey is! And where was all the fist Downey was supposed to eat? You're team is weak and are obviously scared of a true NHL heavyweight.

Lol? thats why right after the hit he was bitched to the corner cowered over as labrie was being held back by a ref

[Coyote0106 2]

Lol? thats why right after the hit he was bitched to the corner cowered over as labrie was being held back by a ref

Thanks for the heads up, looks like section 108 just found out who the target is for this series. Just ask Henry how much he liked being the target last one.

[Stegallfan 0]

Thanks for the heads up, looks like section 108 just found out who the target is for this series. Just ask Henry how much he liked being the target last one.

For what sticking up for his goalie? every player does it but go nutz man im watching this game online is there even 1000 fans there? how pathetic

[uk_redwing 495]

For what sticking up for his goalie? every player does it but go nutz man im watching this game online is there even 1000 fans there? how pathetic

How pathetic noone has done anything about Downey taking your goalie. Wheres the retribution?

[Coyote0106 2]

For what sticking up for his goalie? every player does it but go nutz man im watching this game online is there even 1000 fans there? how pathetic

I love fans that suddenly are hardcore on the internet...

[Aussie_Wing 354]

For what sticking up for his goalie? every player does it but go nutz man im watching this game online is there even 1000 fans there? how pathetic

We averaged 7,448 fans per game, 3rd in the league.

Playoff numbers are obviously down as most have been on weeknights.

[Stegallfan 0]

I love fans that suddenly are hardcore on the internet...

Suddenly hardcore on the internet? ive been a moose fan for years and have two jerseys and have regular season packs/post season packs

And as for noone fighting downey? thats fine i guess arniel didnt want any more s*** resulting in that cheap shot hit in which he Should have been suspended for but oh well thats a bush league for ya but no matter we got the W thats all that matters

And your right i checked the attendance that sucks how only 2500 showed (this is not a sarcastic comment)

Edited May 5, 2009 by Stegallfan