GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 5 at Milwaukee Admirals 1

March 1, 2013

MILWAKUEE – Led by Gustav Nyquist’s third consecutive three-point game, the Grand Rapids Griffins defeated the Milwaukee Admirals 5-1 on Friday at BMO Harris Bradley Center.

After entering the second period tied at one, the Griffins scored four unanswered goals en route to the road victory, ending a three-game road losing streak.

The Griffins (31-18-2-2) picked up where they left off after a seven-goal outburst on Sunday, scoring the first goal of the game at 7:31 of the first period. Twenty seconds into a Grand Rapids power play, Francis Pare received a pass from Brett Skinner on the left wing and tucked his shot inside the goal post past the blocker of Magnus Hellberg.

The Admirals (25-23-3-3) evened the score at one just 1:27 later. A long shot by Joonas Jarvinen was tipped by Patrick Cehlin in front of the goal, and the right wing’s shot fluttered right over Petr Mrazek’s shoulder at 8:58 of the opening period.

Nyquist restored the Griffins lead nine seconds into the second period. A pass from Pare set up Nyquist in front of the goal, and the right wing tucked his shot under the cross bar over the right hand shoulder of Hellberg.

The Griffins took a 3-1 lead at 7:31 of the second period. Luke Glendening took a centering pass from Jan Mursak in front of the goal, and the Grand Rapids native deflected his shot inside the goal post. The goal was Glendening’s seventh of the season.

Mursak tallied his first goal in a Griffins uniform since March 20, 2011 at 11:11 of the second period to give Grand Rapids a 4-1 lead. The right wing was at the high slot and looked ready to take a shot, but pulled back, slipping by the defenseman and scooping a backhander past Hellberg. After allowing three unanswered goals, the reigning AHL goaltender of the month was replaced by Jeremy Smith.

Nyquist gave the Griffins a commanding 5-1 lead with his second goal of the game at 7:01 of the final period. The right wing took advantage of a two-on-one breakaway, snapping his shot inside the left goal post unassisted. The goal gave the Halmstad, Sweden, native nine points (4-5—9) over his last three games.

Mrazek made 31 to improve to 18-8-1, while Hellberg recorded 10 saves and Smith tallied 16.

In their second straight three-in-three weekend, the Griffins will stay on the road tomorrow playing against the Peoria Rivermen at 8:05 p.m. EST.

Three Stars: 1. GR Nyquist (two goals, assist); 2. GR Mrazek (31 saves); 3. GR Pare (goal, assist)