Rockford IceHogs 0 at GRIFFINS 3

Nov. 11, 2016

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Jared Coreau executed 30 saves on Friday night at Van Andel Arena to record his 10th career shutout and propel the Grand Rapids Griffins to a 3-0 victory over the Rockford IceHogs.

Louis-Marc Aubry put an exclamation mark on his 25th birthday by recording the game-winning goal, while Kyle Criscuolo and Matt Lorito potted insurance tallies in the second and third periods, respectively.

The 6-foot-6 Coreau provided a steady presence between the pipes all evening long as he earned his league-leading seventh win of the season. Tonight’s blanking moves him into a tie for third with Marc Lamothe on the franchise’s all-time shutout list.

The Griffins (7-4-0-0) wrapped up their four-game home stand with a 3-1 record, while the IceHogs (4-7-1-0) continued their recent slide and are without a point in the last six contests. The Griffins travel to Milwaukee tomorrow night for their fifth road encounter of the season and the first in two calendar weeks. Puck drop from UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena is set for 7 p.m.

Both teams exchanged glances off the goal post in the opening frame. Joe Hicketts’ rocket from atop the right circle fell victim to the corresponding goal post at the 15:21 mark, while Brandon Mashinter nearly beat Coreau from the left circle roughly 10 minutes later, only to be denied by the pipe.

Aubry wiped away the first period double bagel and gave the Griffins the early lead with 2:11 to play in the stanza. After Dan Renouf’s shot from the left point was redirected to the left corner, Aubry won the loose puck battle and maneuvered toward the slot. As he lost his balance and was falling forward, Aubry directed a backhanded effort through traffic toward the net that deflected off both the left pad of goaltender Mac Carruth and the right skate of defenseman Carl Dahlstrom and went in.

Grand Rapids took advantage of a Viktor Svedberg roughing penalty and was able to pad its lead at the 11:58 mark of the middle frame. Criscuolo, planted just outside the paint on the goaltender’s left shoulder side, got a stick on Hicketts’ drive from high in the slot and tucked it just inside the crossbar for his second professional goal.

Criscuolo nearly notched his second goal of the evening two minutes into the final frame. After gaining possession in his own zone, the rookie found himself on a clear breakaway after two IceHog defenders collided into each other. Bearing down on the Rockford netminder, Criscuolo’s forehanded attempt was paddled away by Carruth after he made a left shoulder save.

The Griffins put the game on ice and stretched their lead to three with 4:22 remaining. On an odd-man rush, Ben Street delivered a backdoor pass to Mitch Callahan at the left goal line. After receiving the puck, Callahan did a 180-degree turn and centered a feed to Lorito, who went glove side for his third goal in the last four games.

Including tonight’s 3-for-3 effort, the Griffins’ penalty kill is 14 for its last 14 and has not allowed a power play goal since Oct. 29.

Carruth stopped 39-of-42 shots in a losing effort as the Griffins were able to convert once on four man advantages.

Notes: The Griffins donned special Red Kettle jerseys as tonight was the second annual Red Kettle Game presented by The Salvation Army.

Three Stars: 1. GR Coreau (30 saves, SO) 2. GR Aubry (game-winning goal) 3. GR Criscuolo (goal)