GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 2 at Milwaukee Admirals 3 (OT)

March 6, 2015

MILWAUKEE – The Grand Rapids Griffins were less than a second away from setting a franchise record with eight consecutive road wins but Milwaukee’s Viktor Stalberg put an end to the Griffins’ winning streak as he scored twice in 15 seconds to give the Admirals a 3-2 overtime victory Friday at BMO Harris Bradley Center.

Despite the overtime setback, Grand Rapids (34-17-6-1) overtook Oklahoma City for the top spot in the Western Conference by virtue of the Barons’ 5-1 road loss at Rockford. The IceHogs and Griffins will meet tomorrow at 8 p.m. EST in Rockford as the Griffins continue the second of a four-game road trip.

Stalberg began his hat trick night as he scored the first goal of the night at 4:02 when he took a pass from Viktor Arvidsson on a two-man break toward Petr Mrazek and scored from six feet past a sliding Mrazek.

Milwaukee goaltender Marek Mazanec kept the AHL’s most prolific offensive attack off the scoreboard until 18:40 of the second period when Kevin Porter slid a backhanded shot past Mazanec between his pads following a pass from Tomas Nosek.

Milwaukee (31-18-4-4) trailed 2-1 early in the third frame when Teemu Pulkkinen scored his league-leading 34th goal of the season at 6:42. Mark Zengerle fired a shot toward Mazanec and Pulkkinen tipped the puck in the net to give the Grand Rapids its first lead of the contest.

As the Griffins approached their 10th straight win overall, the Admirals evened the game 2-2 after pulling Mazanec for an extra attacker in the final minute. The Admirals kept firing shots on Mrazek but it was Kevin Fiala putting a shot from the right boards on the stick of Stalberg, who was open in the slot and tipped the puck past Mrazek as the horn sounded.

After video review, it was determined the puck entered the goal with .4 seconds left on the clock.

Joe Piskula advanced the puck into the Griffins zone just after overtime began. Stalberg picked up the pick just inside the blue line ahead of Nick Jensen. Stalberg skated around the left circle ahead of Jensen and slid the puck underneath Mrazek inside the far post to win the game.

It was the second hat trick of the season for Stalberg snapped Milwaukee’s three-game home losing streak.

Mrazek made 28 saves in the loss. Mazanec earned the win as he turned away 24 of 26 shots. Grand Rapids went 0-for-6 on the power play, while Milwaukee failed to score on five power play opportunities.

Three Stars: 1. MIL Stalberg (Hat Trick); 2. MIL Mazanec (W, 24 saves); 3. GR Mrazek (OTL, 28 saves)

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 2 at Milwaukee Admirals 3 (OT)

March 6, 2015

MILWAUKEE – The Grand Rapids Griffins were less than a second away from setting a franchise record with eighth consecutive road wins but Milwaukee’s Viktor Stalberg put an end to the Griffins’ winning streak as he scored twice in 15 seconds to give the Admirals a 3-2 overtime victory Friday at BMO Harris Bradley Center.

Despite the overtime setback, Grand Rapids (34-17-6-1) overtook Oklahoma City for the top spot in the Western Conference by virtue of the Barons’ 5-1 road loss at Rockford. The IceHogs and Griffins will meet tomorrow at 8 p.m. EST in Rockford as the Griffins continue the second of a four-game road trip.

Stalberg began his hat trick night as he scored the first goal of the night at 4:02 when he took a pass from Viktor Arvidsson on a two-man break toward Petr Mrazek and scored from six feet past a sliding Mrazek.

Milwaukee goaltender Marek Mazanec kept the AHL’s most prolific offensive attack off the scoreboard until 18:40 of the second period when Kevin Porter slid a backhanded shot past Mazanec between his pads following a pass from Tomas Nosek.

Milwaukee (31-18-4-4) trailed 2-1 early in the third frame when Teemu Pulkkinen scored his league-leading 34th goal of the season at 6:42. Mark Zengerle fired a shot toward Mazanec and Pulkkinen tipped the puck in the net to give the Grand Rapids its first lead of the contest.

As the Griffins approached their 10th straight win overall, the Admirals evened the game 2-2 after pulling Mazanec for an extra attacker in the final minute. The Admirals kept firing shots on Mrazek but it was Kevin Fiala putting a shot from the right boards on the stick of Stalberg, who was open in the slot and tipped the puck past Mrazek as the horn sounded.

After video review, it was determined the puck entered the goal with .4 seconds left on the clock.

Joe Piskula advanced the puck into the Griffins zone just after overtime began. Stalberg picked up the pick just inside the blue line ahead of Nick Jensen. Stalberg skated around the left circle ahead of Jensen and slid the puck underneath Mrazek inside the far post to win the game.

It was the second hat trick of the season for Stalberg snapped Milwaukee’s three-game home losing streak.

Mrazek made 28 saves in the loss. Mazanec earned the win as he turned away 24 of 26 shots. Grand Rapids went 0-for-6 on the power play, while Milwaukee failed to score on five power play opportunities.

Three Stars: 1. MIL Stalberg (Hat Trick); 2. MIL Mazanec (W, 24 saves); 3. GR Mrazek (OTL, 28 saves)