GRIFFINS COME UP SHORT AGAINST STARS

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 1 at Texas Stars 2

Nov. 10, 2017

CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Grand Rapids Griffins put up a solid defensive display on Friday allowing only two goals, but the offense could only muster one tally as the Texas Stars stole a 2-1 victory at H-E-B Center.

This was the first of five consecutive road games for the Griffins (6-7-0-1). They will go to battle again with the Stars (7-6-0-1) on Saturday night. The puck will drop at 8 p.m.

Grand Rapids had Texas goaltender Landon Bow standing on his head in the opening period. The Griffins doubled up the Stars, 16-8, on scoring opportunities. However, it was the home team that lit up the lamp first. At 17:35 Colin Markison collected the puck in the neutral zone and stormed into the Grand Rapids zone. He was met by Filip Hronek who extended his stick to make a play, but the right winger still managed to get off a shot. The puck was deflected by Hronek and it was turned into a rubber knuckleball that snuck past Griffins goaltender Tom McCollum.

The second frame had significantly less shots from both teams, but there were plenty of scoring chances nonetheless. Like the first stanza, the team that was outshot was the team that managed to score the period’s only goal. Tyler Bertuzzi tallied his second goal of the season at the 12:49 mark when he tapped the puck into the net from the slot. Dan Renouf took a shot from the point that led to Eric Tangradi corralling the puck near the right corner. The left winger skated to the right circle and fired off a pass between three defenders to Bertuzzi.

The final period followed suit as only one goal was scored. Sheldon Dries put the Stars on top for good when he netted his third goal of the year at 8:47. The center forced a turnover in the neutral zone and found himself with a breakaway opportunity. Dries made a quick move and sent the puck past McCollum for the 2-1 lead and eventual decision.

McCollum finished with 21 saves in defeat, while Bow turned aside 33 saves for his third victory of the season.

Notes: This was the Griffins second straight loss at the H-E-B Center following its 5-4 defeat on March 8, 2017…Both teams combined to go 0-for-4 on the power play

Three Stars: 1. TEX Dries (shorthanded game-winning goal); 2. TEX Bow (W, 33 saves); 3. GR McCollum (L, 21 saves)