123013_sports_griffins_comerica_BFB01.JPG
Grand Rapids defenseman Ryan Sproul controls the puck in front of goalie Tom McCollum during Monday's outdoor game at Comerica Park.
(Brianne Bowen | MLive.com)
DETROIT – The Grand Rapids Griffins, who have won just about everywhere they’ve been this season, weren't cooled entirely at Comerica Park on Monday.
But they were stopped by a shootout.
The Griffins lost a second-period lead and gave up two goals in the shootout in a 4-3 loss against the Toronto Marlies at Comerica Park, part of the Hockeytown Winter Festival.
An announced crowd of 20,397 braved temperatures in the mid-teens and a wind chill near 10 degrees to see the Griffins falter after taking a second-period lead in the first outdoor game in franchise history, and the seventh in AHL history.
More:
Check out a recap of the live blog from the game
With the loss, the Griffins fall to 22-7-1-2 and 47 points, nine points ahead of idle Milwaukee.
Toronto improves to 17-10-2-1.
The teams meet again 6 p.m. Tuesday at Van Andel Arena.
Luke Glendening scored twice in the second period in his first game back after a seven-game stint with the Detroit Red Wings. That gave the Griffins a 3-2 lead going into the third.
But the Marlies tied it 2:22 into the third on a shot by Kenny Ryan and eventually send it into the scoreless overtime.
The Marlies went 2-0 in the shootout, with goals from Spencer Abbott and Gregg McKegg.
The Griffins had a slow start as Toronto’s Kevin Marshall scored on the Marlies first shot of the game, 1:10 into the game.
Griffins defenseman Xavier Ouellet tied it on a four-on-four seven minutes into the first period, but the Marlies regained the lead with two minutes left in the first on a shot by Carter Ashton that also eluded Tom McCollum on the left side, just below his blocker arm.
Glendening scored twice within five minutes to give the Griffins the lead in the second.
He scooped up a loose puck along the left side and pushed in a backhand past goalie Drew MacIntyre with 8:38 left in the period to tie it at 2-2. The goal was reviewed for about five minute to determine if Landon Ferraro, who was coming in from the far side, was in the crease.
At the 3:42 mark, he had another backhand that slipped behind MacIntyre, who actually kicked in the puck with his back leg attempting to make the save.
The Griffins outshot the Marlies 26-25.
Notes
Marlies goalie Drew MacIntyre played two seasons for the Griffins, from 2004-06 … Jordin Tootoo, who returned to the Griffins on Dec. 23, was a scratch …The teams also met last season in the Western Conference semifinals. The Griffins won the series in six games.
Toronto Marlies 4 (SO) at Grand Rapids Griffins 3 - Status: Final SO
Monday, December 30, 2013 - Comerica Park
Toronto 2 0 1 0 - 4
Grand Rapids 1 2 0 0 - 3
1st Period-1, Toronto, Marshall 1 (Ashton, Abbott), 1:10. 2, Grand Rapids, Ouellet 2 (Sheahan, Paetsch), 7:20. 3, Toronto, Ashton 9 (McKegg, Abbott), 18:00. Penalties-Ryan Tor (charging), 5:36; Almquist Gr (interference), 6:33; Marshall Tor (interference), 8:48; Percy Tor (roughing), 10:34; Ferraro Gr (roughing), 10:34; Devane Tor (fighting), 13:14; Grant Gr (fighting), 13:14; Almquist Gr (tripping), 14:59; Brennan Tor (hooking), 15:20.
2nd Period-4, Grand Rapids, Glendening 4 (Evans, Ferraro), 11:22. 5, Grand Rapids, Glendening 5 (Evans), 16:18. Penalties-Granberg Tor (hooking), 2:03; Brennan Tor (roughing), 14:07; Glendening Gr (cross-checking), 14:07.
3rd Period-6, Toronto, Ryan 2 (Brennan), 2:22. Penalties-No Penalties
OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-MacWilliam Tor (delay of game), 4:55.
Shootout - Toronto 2 (Abbott G, Carrick NG, McKegg G), Grand Rapids 0 (Pulkkinen NG, Sheahan NG, Jarnkrok NG, Nestrasil NG).
Shots on Goal-Toronto 7-8-6-3-1-25. Grand Rapids 11-8-7-1-0-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Toronto 0 / 2; Grand Rapids 0 / 5.
Goalies-Toronto, MacIntyre 15-8-1 (27 shots-24 saves). Grand Rapids, McCollum 12-5-1 (24 shots-21 saves).
A-20,337
Referees-Shaun Davis (31), Geno Binda (22).
Linesmen-Kevin Hall (16), Chris Libett (19).