DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Clarke MacArthur’s power play goal with 10.1 seconds remaining on Wednesday lifted the undefeated Rochester Americans to a 4-3 comeback victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Rochester pushed its perfect mark to 7-0, breaking a seven-game winless streak at Van Andel Arena that stretched back to 2002. For the Griffins (3-2-1-1), it marked the second time in four home games that they surrendered a game-winning power play goal to their opponent with less than 11 seconds remaining in regulation.
Against an Americans squad that allowed only eight goals in its first six games, the Griffins struck just 41 seconds into the contest. On a power play, Matt Ellis had several whacks at the puck from point-blank range before Josh Langfeld swooped in to beat Adam Dennis from the left side.
Kip Miller, who earned the second assist on Langfeld’s goal, gave the Griffins a 2-0 lead – and the Amerks their first two-goal deficit of the season – at the 7:28 mark. Dennis stopped Nick Naumenko’s initial shot from the right point but lost track of the puck, which sat tantalizingly on the goal line before Miller crashed the crease for a tap-in.
Rochester tied the score on two quick goals by Drew Larman 43 seconds apart in the middle frame. Moments after a 5-on-3 Amerks power play became a one-man advantage, Mark Mancari found Larman for a back-door one-timer from the left circle at 7:23. Larman scored from nearly the same spot on a rush during the ensuing shift, with the puck deflecting off Jimmy Howard and fluttering inside the right post.
Evan McGrath put the Griffins back on top 3-2 with his first pro goal at 3:22 of the third, collecting a carom and roofing a shot into the right corner of the net from below the circle. However, the visitors answered once again at the 12:05 mark, with Mancari getting credit for the equalizer on a shot that was redirected in the slot.
Dennis made 32 saves in the winning effort, while Howard suffered the loss with 18 stops.
The Griffins will continue their eight-game homestand by hosting Toronto on Friday and Philadelphia on Saturday. Both games will start at 7 p.m.
Rochester pushed its perfect mark to 7-0, breaking a seven-game winless streak at Van Andel Arena that stretched back to 2002. For the Griffins (3-2-1-1), it marked the second time in four home games that they surrendered a game-winning power play goal to their opponent with less than 11 seconds remaining in regulation.
Against an Americans squad that allowed only eight goals in its first six games, the Griffins struck just 41 seconds into the contest. On a power play, Matt Ellis had several whacks at the puck from point-blank range before Josh Langfeld swooped in to beat Adam Dennis from the left side.
Kip Miller, who earned the second assist on Langfeld’s goal, gave the Griffins a 2-0 lead – and the Amerks their first two-goal deficit of the season – at the 7:28 mark. Dennis stopped Nick Naumenko’s initial shot from the right point but lost track of the puck, which sat tantalizingly on the goal line before Miller crashed the crease for a tap-in.
Rochester tied the score on two quick goals by Drew Larman 43 seconds apart in the middle frame. Moments after a 5-on-3 Amerks power play became a one-man advantage, Mark Mancari found Larman for a back-door one-timer from the left circle at 7:23. Larman scored from nearly the same spot on a rush during the ensuing shift, with the puck deflecting off Jimmy Howard and fluttering inside the right post.
Evan McGrath put the Griffins back on top 3-2 with his first pro goal at 3:22 of the third, collecting a carom and roofing a shot into the right corner of the net from below the circle. However, the visitors answered once again at the 12:05 mark, with Mancari getting credit for the equalizer on a shot that was redirected in the slot.
Dennis made 32 saves in the winning effort, while Howard suffered the loss with 18 stops.
The Griffins will continue their eight-game homestand by hosting Toronto on Friday and Philadelphia on Saturday. Both games will start at 7 p.m.
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