Glendening scores twice in Griffins’ 4-3 shootout loss at Comerica Park

By Pat Evans –

DETROIT – In front of more than 20,000 bundled up fans — mostly in Toronto blue — the Toronto Marlies beat the Grand Rapids Griffins 4-3 in a shootout at Comerica Park during the Hockeytown Winter Festival Monday night.

The game was the fifth-most attended in Griffins history — the others being at the Palace of Auburn Hills against the Detroit Vipers.

However, it certainly was the coldest as it was the first outdoor game in franchise history.

Playing in an outdoor game in Detroit was special for everyone involved, especially those who grew up in Michigan, even for a player who’s played in three other outdoor games like Griffins forward Luke Glendening.

Glendening, who was recently sent back to the Griffins by the Red Wings, scored twice in the 4-3 loss – his first outdoor goals after playing in three special-setting games with the Michigan Wolverines.

“It’s special, it’s in Detroit. I’ve been to plenty of tigers games with family and friends,” Glendening said. “Frustrated with the outcome, but to soak in the whole experience is special.”

Toronto jumped to an early lead when defenseman Kevin Marshall fired a shot from the blue line and Griffin goalie Tom McCollum lost sight of the puck and it found the back of the net 1:10 into the game.

About six minutes later, a rush toward the net saw a deflection off Marlies goalie Drew MacIntyre. Grand Rapids defenseman Xavier Ouellet tried several time to net the puck and finally did so from his knees with 12:40 left in the period.

Triston Grant found his way into a scrum as he punched Jalie DeVane’s helmet 13:14 into the game. As he skated off the ice, he held his hand.

Toronto took an early lead as Carter Ashton slipped a puck by McCollum’s right side as he skated by.

“We weren’t as sharp early as they were,” Grand Rapids head coach Jeff Blashill said. “A lot of games have ebb and flow to them, this one did. They just came out a little bit sharper than we did.”

After three outdoor games in Maize and Blue, Glendening finally knocked a goal into the net in his fourth outdoor game 12:22 into the second period. He was sent down from the Red Wings on Sunday following a seven game stint in the NHL. Glendening took a pass from Landon Ferraro and slipped the puck behind MacIntyre from the right side of the net. MacIntyre kicked it back with his right skate as he fell down.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Glendening said of his first outdoor goals. “The first one I was embarrassed to look at the scoreboard, but I guess they all count the same. I was actually trying to make a pass and it hit the goalie’s skate.”

A few minutes later, Glendening went to the box with a cross-checking penalty. After his penalty was up, he slipped out of the box and caught the puck on a breakaway. He slid the puck under MacIntyre five-hole, bounced off the post and off the back of the goalie’s leg into the net.

Blashill said players such as Glendening excel in outdoor games where conditions aren’t the greatest.

“Luke is a really good hockey player,” Blashill said. “To come back in after just getting back in, he did a real good job. He’s also a north-south hockey player, those types of players excel in these conditions where the ice isn’t great and it’s hard to make plays. And he likes to skate north and south and he did a great job.”

Early in the third, the Marlies tied the game back up with another long shot from forward Kenny Ryan that squirted under McCollum’s legs. Griffins defenseman Brennan Evans tried to jump on the puck behind McCollum, but it still found the back of the goal.

All of the goals came on the same goal, the one near where third base would be normally at Comerica Park. Unfortunately for McCollum, he spent two periods on that end — and let in a few goals he normally wouldn’t do to strange circumstance. He said prior to the game he’s not a fan of outdoor games because of glare.

“(The sides weren’t different) that I noticed really,” McCollum said “(MacIntyre) was playing in the same conditions I was.

“Aside from playing horrible, it was good, a lot of fun to play outside.”

Blashill came to a quick defense of McCollum.

“It’s hardest on the goalies,” Blashill said of playing outdoors. “I’d have to go back and look at the history of outdoor games, but the pucks bouncing a bit and it takes getting used to.”

The last half of the third period was fairly chippy as the teams fought for control of the puck, and the game.

The game stayed tied after the overtime.

The Marlies won the shootout, 2-0.

They might have lost on the scoreboard, but the Griffins will take home one point and plenty of memories.

“We got one point, we would have liked two, but you know, we could have played this game 7 o’clock on a Monday, indoors and got one point,” Blashill said. “We’ll take the one point. But we’ll certainly cherish the opportunity.”

The two teams turnaround and play in Grand Rapids Tuesday night in the Griffins annual New Year’s Eve game.