GRIFFINS FALL IN SHOOTOUT

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 2 at Rockford IceHogs 3

Nov. 18, 2017

ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Grand Rapids Griffins scored two goals in the second period to take the lead, but the Rockford IceHogs battled back to tie the game. Eventually the home team would win in a shootout, 3-2, at BMO Harris Bank Center.

The Griffins (8-8-0-2) concluded their 11-day, five-game road trip on Saturday night, but the IceHogs (9-7-0-0) made sure that it wasn’t a happy ending for the defending Calder Cup champions. Grand Rapids heads back home to take on the Manitoba Moose from Van Andel Arena at 7 p.m. on Friday night.

The IceHogs got on the board first when Andreas Martinsen scored his first goal of the season with 3:27 left in the first period. Robin Norell took the initial shot from the high slot, but it took a fortuitous bounce off of the post to a waiting Martinsen who knocked it home for the 1-0 lead.

Eric Tangradi tied the game in the second period with his sixth goal of the year at the 1:52 mark. Rockford turned the puck over in the neutral zone when it was picked up by the left winger. He sent one towards the net from the slot, but it was blocked by a defenseman. The puck ricocheted back to Tangradi and he slapped it into the net from the left circle.

Two and a half minutes later the Griffins took the lead as Dominic Turgeon tallied his sixth goal. The second-year pro glided into the Rockford zone and skated right through the slot and towards the net. He let off a backhanded shot that sailed over IceHog goaltender Jeff Glass’ glove into the top shelf of the net for a 2-1 lead.

Nearly four minutes later the IceHogs tied the game when Matthew Highmore added his sixth goal of the young campaign. Vinnie Hinostroza originally shot the puck from the blue line, but it was blocked. Highmore was the player that stopped it. However, he let the puck drop in front of him, spun around, and let off a quick shot that caught Griffins goaltender Tom McCollum off guard.

Only two shots were produced in the overtime frame, so there weren’t many opportunities to win the game. Both chances were had by Rockford, but McCollum stood firm in the crease.

In the shootout, Hinostroza scored the pivotal goal that would decide the game. The center tallied the goal in the first round of the shootout, and the IceHogs never looked back. Matt Lorito, Matt Puempel, and Tyler Bertuzzi came up short in the shootout as Rockford defeated Grand Rapids 3-2.

Notes: Grand Rapids has now killed 36 of their last 37 penalties…Eric Tangradi now has three goals in three games against Rockford…

Three Stars: 1. RFD Highmore (goal); 2. RFD Glass (W, 32 saves); 3. GR Tangradi (goal, assist)