GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 4 at Charlotte Checkers 1

Oct. 18, 2014

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The visitors took advantage of three power play goals as the Grand Rapids Griffins (3-1-0-0) won their third straight game defeating the Charlotte Checkers (1-4-0-0) 4-1 Saturday at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Charlotte scored the first goal at 7:17 of the first period when Brody Sutter tallied his second goal of the season when his stick deflected a Phil Di Giuseppe slap shot over Tom McCollum.

Charlotte’s first lead of the season lasted until early in the second period when Teemu Pulkkinen scored his third goal in as many games at 4:15 in the second period. The power play goal was scored when Pulkkinen fired a low slap shot that deflected off the glove of Drew MacIntyre. Nathan Paetsch recorded his third assist in as many games on the goal.

Grand Rapids took the lead 18 seconds after Trevor Carrick was called for tripping when Kevin Porter scored his second goal of the season after collecting a rebound in traffic following a Landon Ferraro shot attempt on MacIntyre at 8:23 in the period.

Grand Rapids padded its lead by two when captain Jeff Hoggan scored his first goal of the season at 7:45 when he fired a shot through traffic in front of MacIntyre after taking a backhanded pass from Ferraro.

Andy Miele would put the game out of reach at 11:47 as Grand Rapids scored their third power play goal of the night. MacIntyre mishandled a poke check and Miele was there to capitalize. Following the goal, Brendan Woods was handed a misconduct penalty when he bumped into Miele upon returning to the Griffins bench.

In the victory, McCollum turned away 21 of 22 shots. MacIntyre was peppered with shots for the second straight night, making 32 saves on 36 shots. The Griffins scored three times on six power play opportunities. The Checkers failed to score on four power play chances.

Grand Rapids will return to Van Andel Arena Friday Oct. 24 when Lake Erie returns for at 7 p.m. puck drop for the second time this season.

Three Stars: 1. GR Pulkkinen (goal); 2. GR Miele (goal, assist); 3. GR McCollum (W, 21 saves).

Notes: Pulkkinen has recorded a goal in three straight games for the fourth time as a Griffiin, with the most recent coming between March 7-23, 2014 against Iowa and Chicago.

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 4 at Charlotte Checkers 1

Oct. 18, 2014

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The visitors took advantage of three power play goals as the Grand Rapids Griffins (3-1-0-0) won their third straight game defeating the Charlotte Checkers (1-4-0-0) 4-1 Saturday at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Charlotte scored the first goal at 7:17 of the first period when Brody Sutter tallied his second goal of the season when his stick deflected a Phil Di Giuseppe slap shot over Tom McCollum.

Charlotte’s first lead of the season lasted until early in the second period when Teemu Pulkkinen scored his third goal in as many games at 4:15 in the second period. The power play goal was scored when Pulkkinen fired a low slap shot that deflected off the glove of Drew MacIntyre. Nathan Paetsch recorded his third assist in as many games on the goal.

Grand Rapids took the lead 18 seconds after Trevor Carrick was called for tripping when Kevin Porter scored his second goal of the season after collecting a rebound in traffic following a Landon Ferraro shot attempt on MacIntyre at 8:23 in the period.

Grand Rapids padded its lead by two when captain Jeff Hoggan scored his first goal of the season at 7:45 when he fired a shot through traffic in front of MacIntyre after taking a backhanded pass from Ferraro.

Andy Miele would put the game out of reach at 11:47 as Grand Rapids scored their third power play goal of the night. MacIntyre mishandled a poke check and Miele was there to capitalize. Following the goal, Brendan Woods was handed a misconduct penalty when he bumped into Miele upon returning to the Griffins bench.

In the victory, McCollum turned away 21 of 22 shots. MacIntyre was peppered with shots for the second straight night, making 32 saves on 36 shots.
The Griffins scored three times on six power play opportunities. The Checkers failed to score on four power play chances.

Grand Rapids will return to Van Andel Arena Friday Oct. 24 when Lake Erie returns for at 7 p.m. puck drop for the second time this season.

Three Stars: 1. GR Pulkkinen (goal); 2. GR Miele (goal, assist); 3. GR McCollum (W, 21 saves).

Notes: Pulkkinen has recorded a goal in three straight games for the fourth time as a Griffiin, with the most recent coming between March 7-23, 2014 against Iowa and Chicago.