When Cyclones and Grand Rapids Griffins players weren't fighting on Friday night at the Cincinnati Gardens, they played hockey. In between fist-fights, the Griffins earned a 3-2 shootout victory.
The win lifted Grand Rapids into a third-place tie with the Cyclones in the International Hockey League's Northeast Division.
Referees issued 84 penalty minutes, broke up three fights and handed out three misconduct penalties. At one point in the second period, five Cyclones players and three from Grand Rapids were in the penalty box.
''It's a long season and a divisional rivalry, so there's bound to be some hatred involved,'' Cyclones left wing Scott Morrow said. ''You prepare yourself for a physical battle every time you play these guys.''
Chief among the instigators Friday night was Grand Rapids left wing Matt Ruchty, who is fifth in the league in penalty minutes.
A blindside hit by Ruchty on Feb. 1 sent Cyclones leading scorer Mike Casselman to the sidelines for four weeks with a knee sprain. Casselman returned to the Cyclones' lineup Friday, but played only briefly.
''I know they think it was a bad hit on Casselman,'' Griffins coach Dave Allison said. ''And we know (Cincinnati) used that as a rallying cry.''
Said Cyclones coach Ron Smith: ''When you play a team for what seems like 100 times, things are bound to happen. This game definitely had a playoff feeling to it.''
Grand Rapids took a 1-0 lead on Trevor Linden's seventh goal of the season on assists from Bruce Ramsey and former Miami University player Kevyn Adams at 9:46 of the first period.
Paul DiPietro tied the game for Cincinnati at 15:55 of the first with his 19th goal of the season and his 10th since coming to the Cyclones Jan. 20.
Ruchty's 11th goal of the season gave Grand Rapids a 2-1 lead in the second period.
Morrow scored his 12th goal 38 seconds later to force another tie at 2-2. Morrow has scored in four straight games.
Grand Rapids 1 1 0 1 - 3
Cincinnati 1 1 0 0 - 2
First period: 1. GR, Linden 17 (Ramsey, Adams) 9:46; 2. Cin., DiPietro 19 (Thomas). Penalties: GR, Linden (fighting) 1:56; Cin., Horacek (fighting); GR, T. Nelson (interference) 5:17; Cin., Casselman (slashing) 6:37; GR, Ruchty (slashing) 6:37; GR, Trboyovich (roughing) 11:25; GR, Hankinson (misconduct) 19:36; Cin., Stevens (misconduct) 19:36.
Second period: 3. GR, Ruchty 11 (Cole) 14:31; 4. Cin., Morrow 12 (Thomas, DiPietro) 15:09. Penalties: GR, Jasecko (boarding) :46; Cin., Wells (interference) 10:34; GR, McSween (high stick, fighting) 15:30; Cin., Morrow (double high stick, fighting) 15:30; GR, Richards (roughing) 16:31; GR, Richards (roughing) 16:31; Cin., O'Connor (roughing) 16:31; Cin., Dandenault (roughing) 16:31; GR, Ruchty (roughing, misconduct) 16:31; Cin., Bergeron (roughing) 16:31; Cin., Wells (slashing) 17:17.
Third period: No scoring. Penalties: Cin., Biggs (cross checking) 19:53.
Shots on goal: Cin., 12-11-7-30; GR 8-11-17-36. Power-play: Cin., 0-4; GR 0-4. Penalties: Cin., 12-38; GR 12-46. Goaltenders: Cin., Sarjeant 34-36; GR, Reddick 28-30. Attendance: 6,148. Time: 2:46.
