ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Grand Rapids Griffins scored six unanswered goals – including four third-period tallies – to snap a four-game losing streak, routing the Rochester Americans 6-1 on Friday at Blue Cross Arena.
Tom McCollum stopped 41 of 42 shots to earn his eight win over his last 10 appearances, recording a 1.47 goals against average, a 0.953 save percentage and one shutout in that span. The result also extended the Amerks’ losing streak to four straight.
Former Griffin Matt Ellis started the scoring for Rochester (32-33-2-1) at the 7:56 mark of the opening period. Alex Guptill’s initial effort from the high slot forced a left pad save from McCollum, but Ellis was able to push the rebound inside the right post.
Martin Frk evened the score for Grand Rapids (42-24-1-1) with 10:48 remaining in the middle frame. Jeff Hoggan’s rink-wide pass from the left point reached Frk in stride for a slapshot at the top of the right circle that beat Linus Ullmark high to the blocker side for his team-leading 27th of the campaign.
Joakim Andersson gave the Griffins the lead with 5:47 left in the second. After a Tyler Bertuzzi wrist shot rang off the crossbar and landed in the crease behind Ullmark, Andersson won the race to the rebound and tapped the puck into an open net.
Eric Tangradi made it a two-goal advantage 29 seconds into the third. Ryan Sproul’s stretch pass from his own blue line found Tangradi, who gained the zone and split the defense before sending a shot along the ice just inside the left post for his 26th of the season.
Tomas Nosek gave the Griffins a commanding 4-1 lead 1:48 later. Xavier Ouellet’s pass from the neutral zone sparked a Nosek breakaway, moving from forehand to backhand before lifting the puck over Ullmark’s glove-side shoulder.
Grand Rapids added a pair of insurance tallies in the latter stages of the contest. Joel Chouinard’sdiagonal pass from the left point reached Andy Miele, who had plenty of time to shoot the puck into an open net from the bottom of the right circle with 10:14 remaining.
Mark Zengerle added a sixth goal with 5:45 to play. On an eventual 2-on-0, Ouellet’s feed from the left half-boards found Zengerle in front, shifting to his backhand and sending the puck past a sliding Ullmark.
Rochester finished 0-for-4 on the power play, while the Griffins were unable to cash in on three opportunities. Ullmark stopped 23 of 29 shots in a losing effort.
Grand Rapids continues its three-in-three weekend on Saturday as they take on the Toronto Marlies. Puck drop from Ricoh Coliseum is set for 5 p.m.
Three Stars: 1. GR Zengerle (goal, assist); 2. GR Nathan Paetsch (two assists); 3. GR McCollum (W, 41 saves)
With Griffins game report
