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Barons hit Christmas break on
high note Defeat Grand Rapids in
shootout 12/26/04 - by Craig Haueter
Doug Murray converted his first shootout attempt as a professional
Wednesday night to lift the Cleveland Barons to a 3-2 victory over Grand Rapids
at Gund Arena. Dimitri Patzold made 20 saves in the game to aid the cause. With
the win, the Barons have won five straight, their longest such streak in four
seasons in Cleveland. They also have back-to-back wins over Grand Rapids,
including a 2-0 road victory last Saturday. With the loss Wednesday night, the
Griffins failed to gain two points for just the third time in 13 road
decisions.
Murray scored on the Barons' fifth and final attempt in the
regulation phase of the shootout, which ended, 2-1. After Grand Rapids center
Todd Robinson converted his team's fourth attempt, Barons defenseman Garrett
Stafford answered with a move to beat goalie Joey MacDonald. Griffins standout
defenseman Niklas Kronwall missed wide against Dimitri Patzold to set up
Murray's heroics.
The overtime and shootout were a distant thought
until just 41 seconds remaining in regulation. Grand Rapids capitalized on a
holding call against Doug Murray with Bryan Helmer scoring from left side to
knot the contest, 2-2. Helmer's shot came in a 6-on-4 situation.
Josh
Prudden scored his fourth goal in as many games to give the Barons the lead
early in the game. The Barons maintained the lead until Eric Manlow scored his
team-leading 12th of the season just a minute and a half into the second period
to tie the game. Fourteen minutes later, Cleveland re-established the lead with
a power play strike from their top scoring blue liner, Christian Ehrhoff. Ryane
Clowe and Riley Armstrong assisted on the Barons' second goal.
Barons Notes
The Barons have been busy in the shootout category
thus far in the 2004-05 season with a 3-2 record in the showdown
situation.
Observers at Wednesday's game thought newcomer Jason
Jaffray won the game in overtime for the Barons. With the Barons enjoying a
4-on-3 advantage due to Darryl Bootland's conduct penalty, Jaffray lit the lamp
from tight in on the right side. However, the goal was disallowed as Grand
Rapids goalie Joey MacDonald knocked the near post off its mooring while
sliding to make the save.
Cleveland returns to action at Gund Arena
December 27th and 28th versus the North Division leading Manitoba Moose
(Vancouver affiliate). The Barons then hit the road for a 2-game trip to
Edmonton over New Year's followed by a 2-game series in Winnipeg, Manitoba
against the Moose the following week.
The Barons have held opponents to
two goals or less in the last seven games. They are 5-2-0-0 during that span
and have allowed an average of 1.43 goals per game.
The Cleveland
Barons Player of the Week is left wing Josh Prudden. Prudden set a Barons
franchise record by scoring three consecutive game-winning goals last week. He
ended the week with 3 goals on seven shots and a +2 plus/minus rating. Each of
the rookie's game-winners were of a different variety. His game-winner against
St. John's was unassisted, his game-winner against San Antonio was on the power
play, and his game-winner in Grand Rapids was also the game's first
goal.
The Barons play well when center Grant Stevenson records a point.
Stevenson has recorded at least one point in ten games. In those games, the
Barons are 9-1-0-0. The Barons are 4-0-0-0 when Stevenson scores a
goal.
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