GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 3 at Charlotte Checkers 2

March 10, 2015

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Grand Rapids Griffins lit the lamp in each period in a 3-2 win over Charlotte Checkers at Time Warner Cable Arena Tuesday. With the win the Griffins extended their point streak to 16 games, equaling a franchise record set between 10/25/02-11/30/02. Grand Rapids sports a record of 13-0-3-0 during its current run compared to 11-0-3-2 during the 2002 streak.

Charlotte scored first at 7:05 of the opening period when Ben Holmstrom got past the Grand Rapids defense and passed the puck to Brock McGinn after a shot fake that resulted in a goal between Tom McCollum’s legs.

Charlotte’s lone power play goal of the night on two chances snapped a streak of 25 consecutive penalties killed on the road, dating back to Jan. 17 at Hamilton.

Grand Rapids defensemen accounted for two of the three goals scored, with the first coming from Scott Czarnowczan at 18:03. Czarnowczan passed the puck to Kevin Porter, who got the puck back and fired a low wrister that beat Drew MacIntyre through traffic in front of the net for his second goal of the season.

Andreas Athanasiou gave the Griffins the lead at 13:44 of the middle frame when he stole the puck, streaked into the offensive zone and fired a backhander under the crossbar following a deke around a defender for his 13th goal of the season.

Nick Jensen scored the other defensive goal for Grand Rapids (36-17-6-1) when his blast from the point found the net inside the right post at 3:15 of the third period. Jensen’s goal was aided by Mark Zengerle, who provided the screen in which MacIntyre couldn’t follow the shot until it was in the back of the net.

Charlotte (23-31-5-1) tried to mount a comeback later in the period starting with Zach Boychuk stealing the puck from Ryan Sproul behind the net and finding Brendan Woods in the front of McCollum that resulted in the final goal of the night at 12:51.

Charlotte pulled MacIntyre for an extra attacker with 1:30 remaining but couldn’t equalize despite several quality chances on McCollum.

McCollum ran his streak of games without a regulation loss to nine (7-0-2-0) following his 19 save performance. MacIntyre stopped 24 of 27 shots in the loss.

The Checkers will get another chance to stop the Griffins’ point streak as Grand Rapids finishes a four-game road trip with a rematch Thursday at 7 p.m. in Charlotte.

Three stars: 1. GR Athanasiou (goal); 2. GR Jensen (game-winning goal); 3. CHA McGinn (goal)

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 3 at Charlotte Checkers 2

March 10, 2015

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Grand Rapids Griffins lit the lamp in each period in a 3-2 win over Charlotte Checkers at Time Warner Cable Arena Tuesday. With the win, the Griffins extended their point streak to 16 games, equaling a franchise record set between 10/25/02-11/30/02. Grand Rapids sports a record of 13-0-3-0 during its current run compared to 11-0-3-2 during the 2002 streak.

Charlotte scored first at 7:05 of the opening period when Ben Holmstrom got past the Grand Rapids defense and passed the puck to Brock McGinn after a shot fake that resulted in a goal between Tom McCollum’s legs.

Charlotte’s lone power play goal of the night on two chances snapped a streak of 25 consecutive penalties killed on the road, dating back to Jan. 17 at Hamilton.

Grand Rapids defensemen accounted for two of the three goals scored, with the first coming from Scott Czarnowczan at 18:03. Czarnowczan passed the puck to Kevin Porter, who got the puck back and fired a low wrister that beat Drew MacIntyre through traffic in front of the net for his second goal of the season.

Andreas Athanasiou gave the Griffins the lead at 13:44 of the middle frame when he stole the puck, streaked into the offensive zone and fired a backhander under the crossbar following a deke around a defender for his 13th goal of the season.

Nick Jensen scored the other defensive goal for Grand Rapids (36-17-6-1) when his blast from the point found the net inside the right post at 3:15 of the third period. Jensen’s goal was aided by Mark Zengerle, who provided the screen in which MacIntyre couldn’t follow the shot until it was in the back of the net.

Charlotte (23-31-5-1) tried to mount a comeback later in the period starting with Zach Boychuk stealing the puck from Ryan Sproul behind the net and finding Brendan Woods in the front of McCollum that resulted in the final goal of the night at 12:51.

Charlotte pulled MacIntyre for an extra attacker with 1:30 remaining but couldn’t equalize despite several quality chances on McCollum.

McCollum ran his streak of games without a regulation loss to nine (7-0-2-0) following his 19 save performance. MacIntyre stopped 24 of 27 shots in the loss.

The Checkers will get another chance to stop the Griffins’ point streak as Grand Rapids finishes a four-game road trip with a rematch Thursday at 7 p.m. in Charlotte.

Three stars: 1. GR Athanasiou (goal); 2. GR Jensen (game-winning goal); 3. CHA McGinn (goal)