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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Manitoba Moose rode 41 saves by Drew MacIntyre and two empty-net goals in the final minute to a 4-1 victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday at Van Andel Arena.
The Griffins will host a rematch on Saturday at 7 p.m. Only a few hundred tickets remain for the game, which will be televised live throughout Michigan on Comcast Local.
Manitoba (30-22-2-2) grabbed the advantage 14:19 into the opening period, as Shaun Heshka sailed a wrist shot past Adam Berkhoel from the high slot. For the period, the Moose out-shot the Griffins to the tune of 13-7.
A highlight-reel power play goal pushed the visitors’ lead to 2-0 early in the second frame. Rick Rypien sped around a Griffins defenseman, bore down upon Berkhoel and flipped the puck past the netminder’s glove at the 2:45 mark.
Grand Rapids, which built shot advantages of 17-10 and 18-10 over the second and third periods, finally beat its former teammate with 6:37 left in the game. Francis Lemieux collected the puck behind the Manitoba net, skated out to the right half-wall and threw a shot on goal that somehow managed to elude MacIntyre’s grasp.
The Griffins (22-27-2-5) continued to apply intense pressure in the Manitoba end but could not get the equalizer, forcing them to pull Berkhoel in favor of an extra attacker in the waning moments. His absence allowed Alexandre Bolduc (19:04) and Mike Brown (19:33) to tally into the vacated cage for the final inflated margin.
Berkhoel made 29 stops in a game marked by a lack of penalties, as each team received just one power play opportunity.
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