For the second time in three nights the Grand Rapids Griffins hosted the Texas Stars at Van Andel Arena. And for the second night in a row the Griffins potent powerplay staked them to a large lead. That was where the similarities ended, as the home team squandered a 3-1 lead to fall 4-3 on a late goal to see their four game winning streak come to an end. Martin Frk scored his fourth goal of the season while Tomas Nosek added his 1st.
The Stars caught a break early when Dan Renouf took down his man, but as he fell, his foot propelled the puck in over Coreau for a fluky 1-0 lead. Matt Ford working hard on his first shift drove to the net and drew a penalty giving the Griffins the first of many powerplays on the night. Shorthanded two man break by Texas but Elie fired it wide. Tomas Nosek in the slot tipped a powerplay point blast by Ben Street past Lagace to even the score at one. Ford with a big drive from the slot that looked to have gone in and out of the net, but apparently hit the post and came back out. Criscuolo carried deep but his pass was deflected away. Shots on goal: GR 8 - Tex 11.
Nosek fired a shot through the crease behind Lagace and out the other side. He ended up getting it back for a redirection in front that didn't go in. Huge kick save by Coreau to keep the puck out on a dangerous play. Frk and Callahan picking up each others rebounds on the PP for several dangerous chances before Elie took Callahan down, setting up a two-man advantage. Great passing play tape-to-tape and then Lorito banked it in off Lagace from the side of the net for a powerplay goal. Joe Hicketts lobbed a high pass over the D and into the Texas zone to Frk with speed who jammed it at Lagace for a chance. Heads up play by Callahan to find a seam and split the D for a great scoring chance. Then while everyone focused on Callahan, Frk snuck in backdoor, took a pass, and buried it for another powerplay marker. Criscuolo with a burst of speed got by the defense and cut in on net for a shot. Criscuolo on the backcheck then flew up the middle and blew past the defense and picked up the loose puck. He was taken down as he broke free, but no penalty was called. Late in the period Gemel Smith took a nice pass back door on Coreau and buried it to cut the lead to one.
Hicketts carrying the puck out of the zone got his pocket picked but managed to take away the passing lane. Hicketts then knocked DeFazio into the net while defending, leaving the veteranTexas forward trapped in the cage behind Coreau. Midway through the third Morin snapped a shot from the circle past a partially screened Coreau to tie things up at three apiece. Campbell and DeFazio with some words in front of the penalty boxes, but cooler heads prevailed. Matej Stransky gave Texas the lead late in the third when he punced on a loose puck in front and chipped it in over Coreau. The Griffins pulled their netminder for an extra skater and tried to pressure the Stars and get the tying goal but were unable to and fell 4-3. Shots on goal: GR 16 - Tex 10. For the game: GR 44 - Tex 30.
Lorito seems to have found his footing the last couple of games, notching 6 points in his last 2 and jumping into the #4 spot in AHL scoring.
While team has feasted on the powerplay the last couple of games, they have allowed way to many shorthanded chances for the other team. They did not look like they were paying attention to the details last night and uncharacteristically did not look great defensively. I am sure these are both things that Todd Nelson and his staff will be addressing.