GUT CHECK
TORONTO Darryl Bootland scored with 1:19 remaining and Drew MacIntyre made 33 saves to power the Grand Rapids Griffins to a 3-2 win over the Toronto Marlies on Thursday in Game 4 of their North Division Semifinal series at the Air Canada Centre.
The game looked to be headed to overtime after Torontos Brad Leeb popped a shot past MacIntyre during a goal-mouth scramble at 17:53 of the third period. But just 48 seconds later, Bootland drove the net to redirect a Jiri Hudler slap shot from the left boards, giving the Griffins a three-games-to-one lead in their best-of-seven series. Game 5 is set for Friday at Ricoh Coliseum.
The Griffins seemed unfazed by the absence of goaltender Jimmy Howard, who was recalled by the Detroit Red Wings early this afternoon. To the contrary, they controlled much of the play during the opening period to stake MacIntyre to a 2-0 lead.
Grand Rapids took the lead on its third power play at the 11:56 mark of the frame. Bryan Helmers blast from the point sailed wide left of Jean-Sebastien Aubins net, but Kent McDonell was waiting below the circle to put the rebound past the sprawling goaltenders glove. Hudler earned an assist on the play to move into a tie with Ed Patterson for 10th place on the Griffins all-time playoff scoring list with his 12th point (3-912), in just his eighth postseason game.
AHL MVP Donald MacLean soon pushed the advantage to two with his fourth goal of the postseason. After taking a pass from Matt Ellis, MacLean had two point-blank whacks at the puck before potting his third try just inside the right post at 16:15.
Toronto got on the board during a delayed penalty 2:08 into the second. Buzzing around the Grand Rapids net, the Marlies had several chances before Jay Harrison fired a shot from 55 feet that slipped through a crowded slot and behind MacIntyre.
Outside of Leebs goal, MacIntyre proved flawless the rest of the way, continuing the success hes already enjoyed during the postseason. He led the Toledo Storm to a 3-0 sweep of their first-round ECHL series prior to joining the Griffins last week. Aubin, meanwhile, finished the night with 20 saves.
The game looked to be headed to overtime after Torontos Brad Leeb popped a shot past MacIntyre during a goal-mouth scramble at 17:53 of the third period. But just 48 seconds later, Bootland drove the net to redirect a Jiri Hudler slap shot from the left boards, giving the Griffins a three-games-to-one lead in their best-of-seven series. Game 5 is set for Friday at Ricoh Coliseum.
The Griffins seemed unfazed by the absence of goaltender Jimmy Howard, who was recalled by the Detroit Red Wings early this afternoon. To the contrary, they controlled much of the play during the opening period to stake MacIntyre to a 2-0 lead.
Grand Rapids took the lead on its third power play at the 11:56 mark of the frame. Bryan Helmers blast from the point sailed wide left of Jean-Sebastien Aubins net, but Kent McDonell was waiting below the circle to put the rebound past the sprawling goaltenders glove. Hudler earned an assist on the play to move into a tie with Ed Patterson for 10th place on the Griffins all-time playoff scoring list with his 12th point (3-912), in just his eighth postseason game.
AHL MVP Donald MacLean soon pushed the advantage to two with his fourth goal of the postseason. After taking a pass from Matt Ellis, MacLean had two point-blank whacks at the puck before potting his third try just inside the right post at 16:15.
Toronto got on the board during a delayed penalty 2:08 into the second. Buzzing around the Grand Rapids net, the Marlies had several chances before Jay Harrison fired a shot from 55 feet that slipped through a crowded slot and behind MacIntyre.
Outside of Leebs goal, MacIntyre proved flawless the rest of the way, continuing the success hes already enjoyed during the postseason. He led the Toledo Storm to a 3-0 sweep of their first-round ECHL series prior to joining the Griffins last week. Aubin, meanwhile, finished the night with 20 saves.
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