Four Unanswered Goals Give Griffins 4-2 Win Over Admirals
Photo Credit : Mark Newman
Milwaukee Admirals (2) at Grand Rapids Griffins (4)
Attendance: 7,253
Officials
Referees : Stephen Hiff (46), Morgan MacPhee (43)
Linesperson: Ryan Jackson (84), Joseph Mahon (89)
Griffins Lines
Hirose - Czarnik - Luff
Mazur - Kasper - Berggren
Aston-Reese - L'Esperance - Shine
Soderbom - Lombardi
Griffins Pairings
Edvinsson - Johansson
Simek - Rafferty
Wallinder - Newpower
Tuomisto
Admirals Lines
Weisblatt - Svechkov - Tomasino
L’Heureux - Parssinen - Foudy
Afanasyev - O’Reilly - Kemell
Schaefer - Campbell
Admirals Pairings
Gravel - McKeown
Del Gaizo - Ufko
Wilsby - Gross
Livingstone
The Grand Rapids Griffins scored four unanswered goals in three and a half minutes to take down the Milwaukee Admirals, 4-2. Jonatan Berggren led the way with two goals and one assist. Goaltender Sebastian Cossa stood tall in net, stopping 31 of the 33 shots he faced.
The 11-7 lineup makes for a complete Griffins game
The Griffins iced a lineup of 11 forwards and seven defenders instead of the typical 12 and six on Friday night. Head Coach Dan Watson used this unique lineup earlier in the playoffs, and it often provided fruitful results as Grand Rapids tends to play a more rounded lineup in these circumstances. “You get some of your top guys more ice time up front,” said Watson. “There’s just a different flow, and for some reason, our guys are responding to 11-7. They like it.”
As long as it works, forward Joel L’Esperance is more than happy to play with an 11-7 lineup. “As a forward, it’s nice,” said L’Esperance. “You feel like you get on the ice a little bit more and get a little more involved in the game.”
As forward Carter Mazur alluded to in post-game, the Griffins have arguably one of the best lineups in the AHL this season. Their tenacity and penchant for whatever it takes to mount comebacks has made crafting an 11 and 7 lineup much easier. “I’m doing whatever I'm given,” said Mazur. “I think we’ve got a lot of guys who can play up and down anywhere. So, to have 11-7 or 12-6, we know we can play.”
Man on a Mission
In an incredible display of skill, Berggren scored three points (2g, 1a) in three minutes and 30 seconds to help lift Grand Rapids to an incredible comeback win. Originally, Berggren was credited with three goals on the night. However, 24 hours later, the AHL announced Berggren’s first goal of the night was tipped in by Marco Kasper.
With four game-winning goals and 10 points in eight games during the playoffs, Berggren continues to drive the bus for the Griffins in intense situations. Over the past two seasons, Berggren has grown into a phenomenal hockey player. “He’s just an unbelievable hockey player. He knows where to be in the right situations, and he knows where to put the puck in the net,” said Mazur of his linemate. “He’s just a high-level hockey player that always does the right things.”
Coach Watson added to Mazur’s thoughts by pointing out that Berggren “thrives in those situations” and that he “engages more when stuff's on the line.”
But, if you ask Berggren about it, he quickly turns the focus towards others. “I think every boys on the team step up. The fans were great, too.”
Two 5-on-3s? No Problem
Grand Rapids exited two five-on-threes in the second period completely unscathed. One of which was a full two minutes of two-man disadvantage. To be able to hold a strong Milwaukee power play to zero goals when down a man is great. When a team can prevent them from scoring when down two men, that’s simply an incredible feat.
Honestly, preventing Milwaukee from scoring on both of the Admirals' two-man advantages was the game-changer for the Griffins. “That’s the game right there,” said Coach Watson. “They score on those five on threes, that’s a different story. We’re talking something different right now. That was big.”
Veteran forward Dominik Shine echoed how “huge” the kill was for Grand Rapids saying “You could hear it in the crowd. Everyone was fired up. We were fired up.”
The adage “your best penalty killer tends to be your goaltender” rang true on Friday night. Cossa was locked in and denied every shot with ease. His strong presence in net allowed the Griffins' penalty kill squad to relax and focus on their own game. “We know when he’s back there he’s going to make the big saves when it matters most, and he’s been doing that,” said Mazur. “And that’s what we need.”
Just like Berggren, when asked about his skills, Cossa turned the conversation towards his teammates. “I think our D (defense) did a great job killing it. Some big blocks. They were making my life as easy as possible.”
Two Power Play Goals?! TWO POWER PLAY GOALS!
It’s no secret that the Griffins’ power play has been one of the worst in the league for the bulk of the season. Their lack of being able to convert power plays into goals has ultimately been the deciding factor in many of their losses.
On Friday night’s game, Grand Rapids scored back-to-back power-play goals in one minute and 30 seconds igniting a quick comeback for the Griffins. “We’ve been pretty bad lately,” said Berggren of Grand Rapids’ power play. “So, it’s good for confidence that power play and pk that killed that 5 vs 3. It’s really important.”
Spicy Seabass
From the moment the officials dropped the puck, physicality was off the charts between Grand Rapids and Milwaukee. As things grew more and more intense, Cossa decided it was time to get a bit more aggressive with the Admirals. Cossa whacked Milwaukee players in the butt with his stick, pushed them out of the crease, and even gently kneed Liam Foudy in the stomach when he wouldn’t leave his space. Cossa’s spiciness added much-needed energy to Grand Rapids’ game. “When we get in that emotional game and we see the guys, your brothers in here, they’re getting into it. Maybe some hits you don’t like,” said Cossa of the physical game. “You want to get physical too. I think at the right times you maybe can.”
Coach Watson would have liked to see the Griffins protect their goaltender instead of Cossa having to protect himself. However, Coach Watson was glad Cossa protected himself in a way that didn’t affect how he played.
“I’d like our team to do it a little bit more. With that said, as long as he’s mentally engaged and it doesn’t distract him, that’s what we’re hoping for. And that part of his game has matured quite a bit since day one when I saw him last year until now is the fact he’s mature now. He knows how to handle it. He knows how to turn that page, for lack of a better term, and refocus on the next play. Again, it’s ok. I’d rather see our team help him out there” - Head Coach Dan Watson
Quote of the Night
A huge shift in energy at the start of the third period left everyone wondering what Coach Watson said to the Griffins that made them come out with a brand new lease on life. Below is what Watson told the media in post-game.
“A little chatter about being too emotional and taking some bad penalties. Just to make sure we’re staying focused. And we’ve been here before. I think that’s the biggest thing. We’ve been down a couple of goals in this building and we’ve been able to do what we did right there. Now, it’s our time to not get too high and make sure we stay level and stay prepared for a bigger game five”
Scoring Change Note
Berggren’s stat line went from three goals and zero assists to two goals and one assist due to the fact the puck hit Kasper in the shoulder. The Griffins requested the scoring change after the players told coaches the situation.
3 Stars
1st - Jonatan Berggren (Grand Rapids Griffins - 2g, 1a)
2nd - Sebastian Cossa (Grand Rapids Griffins - 33 shots f aced, 31 saves, 60:00 TOI)
3rd - Joel L’Esperance (Grand Rapids Griffins - 1g, 0a)
What’s Next
The Grand Rapids Griffins and Milwaukee Admirals play in a winner takes all game on Sunday at 6pm est in Milwaukee.
