GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- It could have been the turning point of the series.
Instead, it became a footnote.
Grand Rapids Griffins enforcer Darryl Bootland landed a two-handed slash to the leg of Jason Jaffray in front of the Manitoba Moose goal midway through the third period of Game 5 of the AHL North Division final.
Referee Brian Pochmara gave Bootland a slashing major and game misconduct and Jaffray thought he'd have the last laugh when he scored the go-ahead goal at 12:48 with the Moose enjoying a two-man advantage.
TOUGH WAY TO LOSE
But the Griffins rallied, tying the game with 49 seconds to go and their net empty and then got the winner at 4:20 of overtime.
"That's a really tough way to lose Game 5. That's a big game," said Jaffray. "There were a lot of things that went against us. The last goal goes off the turnbuckle and leads to a partial breakaway and then goes off a couple of guys and then off (Drew) MacIntyre and goes in.
"When it's not meant to be, it's not meant to be I guess. Two wins at home are all we need."
As for the incident itself, Jaffray tried to bite his tongue but simply couldn't.
"That's Darryl Bootland being Darryl Bootland," said Jaffray. "I go to cover him in front and he turns around and gives me a baseball swing in the back of the leg.
"It was totally an attempt to injure. We've played against him for three years and you kind of expect that from him."
INTERESTING TAKE
Griffins head coach Greg Ireland had an interesting take on the situation.
"I'd like to see it first (on the videotape)," said Ireland. "I'm obviously not happy when a player takes a five-minute slash in a game of this magnitude.
"He's a veteran guy and I love him deep down. He's a guy that drives everyone crazy. We'll deal with it internally and go from there."
Moose head coach Scott Arniel didn't really elaborate when asked for his opinion of the slash.
"The referee called it and I think all three of them saw it," said Arniel. "It was the right call."
As for heading home needing to win two games to extend the season, Arniel was unfazed.
"We have enough leadership in there and guys who have been through these kind of scenarios," he said. "We played 80 games to get home-ice advantage and this is what it all comes down to. It comes down to us being at home and having an opportunity to make sure we win the next game.
"Now it's the fight in us that we need to see."
