Aeros v. Grand Rapids Griffins - Game 62

So I went to the game as a fan and sat in the stands for the first time this season. First of all, I'd forgotten how difficult it is to eat without a table in front of me to hold all my crap. That well honed skill has deteriorated this season.

Second, I'd forgotten how, when you don't have to appear mostly neutral to the events playing out in front of you, the emotional investment in a single game is pretty strong. And how nice it feels to clap for a great performance. That felt really, really good... and it was a great performance in the second and third periods, well deserving of a big round of applause.

I'll let John and Andrew take you through the play-by-play. I didn't take notes and they did a fine job of it. Oh and some nice pics from Fred!

General impressions:

• I was relieved, after a first period where the Aeros failed to convert on four ripe PP opportunities, to find out the Giffins have the best PK in the league. Last night's performance did nothing but reinforce that, as they staved off the 4th best power play in the league in the Aeros.
• The defense was terrific. Focused, quick, passing well, seeing the ice well, putting well, chipping well. It was the kind of D that will just frustrate the hell out of you as a forward because they've constantly got a stick on you, poke poke poking the puck away, not an inch of space to move. I recall a couple of times the Albers/Scott pairing got outnumbered and they (Alby in particular) and Schaefer did a great job doing damage control.
  
• The PK was so good, the penalties were virtually irrelevant. The Griffins were hard pressed to even get across the blue line. Gorgeous!
  
• Schaef's dramatic glove save with .3 seconds left in the game perfectly punctuated a game in which the Aeros confidence and dominance just crescendoed the longer it went on. It was a beauty. (Though apparently crescendoed isn't a word... sorry.)
  

mlive.com continues to win the award for Bitchiest Hockey Coverage. Seriously? This is what you're complaining about? Detroit needs a bad team for a while so they can remember what it's like to have real things to bitch about.

Anyway, back working the game Saturday and then I'll miss Tuesday's game against QC, but since Chucko's been called up to Calgary, what would be the fun anyway?