Grand Rapids Griffins 2012-13 ‎- Part 2

[griffs]

It will be interesting to see how the lineup gets set this weekend now that a playoff spot has been clinched. I think if they can win on Friday and clinch the division that they may rest some guys for the Saturday game in Lake Erie. Sunday's game also may not mean anything if Chicago continues their tailspin out of the playoffs.

 

[ChadS]

The Griffins posted some pics from practice today. Pulkkinen there as well: http://www.flickr.com/photos/griffinshockey/

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Ferraro or Jurco scores a PP goal with 13 seconds left to clinch the division.

Mursak with the empty net.

Jurco gets the official credit for now.

 

[RedWingsNow*]

Peoria Rivermen 1 at Grand Rapids Griffins 3 - Status: Final
Friday, April 19, 2013 - Van Andel Arena

Peoria 1 0 0 - 1
Grand Rapids 0 1 2 - 3

1st Period-1, Peoria, Hensick 19 (Longpre, Grachev), 3:31. Penalties-No Penalties

2nd Period-2, Grand Rapids, Skinner 4 (Hoggan, Sheahan), 9:04. Penalties-No Penalties

3rd Period-3, Grand Rapids, Jurco 14 (Hoggan, Ferraro), 19:47 (PP). 4, Grand Rapids, Mursak 4 19:58 (EN). Penalties-Bogosian Peo (hooking), 9:39; Woywitka Peo (cross-checking), 11:00; Glendening Gr (hooking), 13:58; Woywitka Peo (delay of game), 18:23.

Shots on Goal-Peoria 4-9-6-19. Grand Rapids 14-12-17-43.
Power Play Opportunities-Peoria 0 / 1; Grand Rapids 1 / 3.
Goalies-Peoria, McKenna 19-17-1 (42 shots-40 saves). Grand Rapids, Mrazek 23-15-2 (19 shots-18 saves).
A-10,627
Referees-Graham Skilliter (48).
Linesmen-Jim Scarpace (75), Bob Marcis (65).


3 Skinner, Brett D 1 0 +1 5 0
A 4 Paetsch, Nathan D 0 0 +1 4 0
5 Almquist, Adam D 0 0 0 2 0
9 Pare, Francis RW 0 0 0 2 0
C 10 Hoggan, Jeff LW 0 2 0 4 0
11 Nestrasil, Andrej RW 0 0 0 0 0
14 Billins, Chad D 0 0 -1 2 0
15 Callahan, Mitch RW 0 0 +1 3 0
19 Sheahan, Riley C 0 1 +1 3 0
20 Fournier, Gleason D 0 0 +1 2 0
22 Aubry, Louis-Marc C 0 0 0 1 0
23 Grant, Triston LW 0 0 0 0 0
27 Tatar, Tomas LW 0 0 0 2 0
28 Jurco, Tomas RW 1 0 0 2 0
29 Ferraro, Landon C 0 1 0 1 0
33 Glendening, Luke C 0 0 0 3 2
39 Mursak, Jan RW 1 0 +1 4 0
A 44 Evans, Brennan D 0 0 0 3 0
TEAM 1 0

 

[kuick]

They dominated shots on goal, but tons of low percentage shots. It speaks to their time of possession more than anything.

Peoria sucks but Hensick's goal was pretty cool. Kopitar-esque flip pass over like 3 dudes to give him a breakaway.

 

[RedWingsNow*]

Is it just me, or do the Griffs play Peoria 20 times a year?

 

[kuick]

AHL is super heavy on divisional play mostly due to travel reasons. Bus travel is a pain.

Next season will shake things up a bit. Peoria was sold to the Nucks, so they're heading closer to Vancouver. Houston Aeros are moving closer north to the Wild, specifically Iowa. That will probably put them in GR's division.

Also, official congrats on the division clinch. It's been a while since the Griffins have been competitive. Speaks a bit to the young guys in our prospect pool but I think Blashill deserves a fair bit of credit. He's good with the kids, especially compared to Fraser.

 

[InjuredChoker]

Is it just me, or do the Griffs play Peoria 20 times a year?

I think this is the 8th time. Won the first two but then lost the last 5 in a row.

edit. checked. this is the 10th time. GR won the first two and this last one.

So they lost the season series though Peoria sucks. Last in division. Their system is just poison for GR.

 

[joe89]

Who do we want them to play in the first round?

 

[ChadS]

Bashill should be given a lot of credit for the turnaround in Grand Rapids. Last three seasons they've been 13th, 14th and 14th in the West and now it looks like they'll be 3rd.

Hopefully they'll play the Sprouls and Pulkkinens in the two remaining games since it's basically confirmed they'll finish 3rd in the West.

 

[RayMoonDoh]

Bashill should be given a lot of credit for the turnaround in Grand Rapids. Last three seasons they've been 13th, 14th and 14th in the West and now it looks like they'll be 3rd.

Honestly this is why Blashill looks like a good pick to succeed Babs. Good guy for a transition to a younger team.

But then theres Holland....

 

[ChadS]

For the final two games of the regular season, Blashill said he will use players up from Toledo, in addition to newcomer Teemu Pulkkinen from Finland.

“We want to keep the pedal on the gas, but we’ll have different guys in and out of the lineup,” Blashill said. “But that’s to see who are the best 20 players come the playoffs. It’s not to rest guys but see who the 20 best players we have to play in the playoffs.”

http://www.mlive.com/griffins/index.ssf/2013/04/controversial_final-second_goa.html

 

[ricky0034]

http://www.mlive.com/griffins/index.ssf/2013/04/controversial_final-second_goa.html

"players up from Toledo, in addition to newcomer Teemu Pulkkinen from Finland."

so no Sproul then?

 

[RayMoonDoh]

C'mon, just how cool is this:

#25 Calle Jarnkrok
#26 Teemu Pulkkinen
#27 Tomas Tatar
#28 Tomas Jurco
#29 Landon Ferarro

or am i just a nerd with OCD?

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

"players up from Toledo, in addition to newcomer Teemu Pulkkinen from Finland."

so no Sproul then?

Well they don't need to assign him, he is already in Grand Rapids. There was also no mention of Nedomlel. I am curious is this because it burns something off their professional contract, I didn't think that is how it works, but Fournier played last night, realistically he shouldn't play over Sproul or Nicastro.

Also keep in mind Toledo was bounced from the playoffs. This is similar to how the Wings the past three years have had several Griffins up and practicing for the month they have been in the playoffs. They will get games because of the nature of the AHL schedule over this weekend. But not many of these guys are going to play. If the Wings fall apart this week, at some point Andersson, Smith, Lashoff, Nyquist, and DeKeyser will all return to this roster as well.

 

[ChadS]

Sproul (#2) and Pulkkinen (#26) playing tonight. Sproul with Paetsch, Pulkkinen with Jurco & Nestrasil.

 

[lucaseider]

Anyone happen to have a stream? usual places arent working

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

Sproul (#2) and Pulkkinen (#26) playing tonight. Sproul with Paetsch, Pulkkinen with Jurco & Nestrasil.

Exciting! Curious to see how Sproul does. Wondering who plays center between Pulk, Jurco, and Nestrasil, too. All three are natural wingers.

 

[GoAwayDanCleary]

How'd the new guys look through one?

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

How'd the new guys look through one?

Sproul's skill is plain as day and he seems to be a pretty good skater. Pulkkinen is faster than I thought he'd be and doesn't seem particularly lost despite the transition. No big point shots for either of them so far.

 

[Henkka]

Exciting! Curious to see how Sproul does. Wondering who plays center between Pulk, Jurco, and Nestrasil, too. All three are natural wingers.

Wasn't Nestrasil a center at earlier years?

 

[ChadS]

Wasn't Nestrasil a center at earlier years?

He's played center this year at least in some games. He's the center on that line tonight as well.

First period was quiet from the newcomers. In the second Sproul got some PP time, his skill with the puck and on the blueline is obvious, plus got some good shots on goal. Skating very good also. Not much work in the d-zone, a one-on-one in which he used his long stick for the pokecheck. Pulkkinen had a questionable penalty and after that pickpocketed a d-man, draw a penalty and created a scoring chance (slapper point blank, of course). His skating was ok. They were both on the 2nd PP unit, which at least on the 2nd try had Pulkkinen running the play.

 

[RedWingsNow*]

I like Nestrasil's game.

 

[RedWingsNow*]

Pulkinnen skated OK. But he seems to think he can just stickhandle through guys. Sproul had a couple good shifts and didn't look way out of place

 

[GoAwayDanCleary]

Pulkinnen skated OK. But he seems to think he can just stickhandle through guys. Sproul had a couple good shifts and didn't look way out of place

Good to hear.

Don't expect a flawless transition from these guys, especially Sproul.