The Griffins won their season opener for the fourth consecutive year Friday night, a solid 4-1 decision over the Detroit Vipers before an announced sellout crowd of 20,804 at The Palace.
John Emmons, Konstantin Shafranov and Michel Picard scored in a span of 8 minutes, 25 seconds in the second period for the Griffins. Ed Patterson added an empty net goal with 4.7 seconds left in the game.
"It was a solid effort," Griffins coach Guy Charron said. "We were a little bit shaky in the first period. I think it was a case of nerves for some of the players. A lot of these guys were playing their first game in the league and it took them a while to get started."
Goalie Mike Fountain, who joined the team earlier this week, made 20 saves in his International Hockey League debut to spark the Griffins in their first game as an affiliate of the Ottawa Senators.
"I felt good right from the start," Fountain said. "I really like the arena -- the lighting is good and I didn't have any problem seeing the puck.
"My biggest concern is learning everyone's name. I've only been here a few days and I was calling some of the guys by their nickname. I'm sure that will change in the next few days."
Emmons, who played last season for the Vipers, opened the scoring at 3:21 of the second period when he skated around the Detroit net and slipped a backhander through the legs of goalie Tim Thomas.
"I think we had bus legs in the first period," Emmons said. "It was pretty quiet riding over here today. I sensed a quiet confidence. Everyone knew their job and did it."
Shafranov tallied a short-handed goal off a turnover at the Vipers' blueline. Picard, the greatest scorer in Griffins' history, then beat the Vipers' defense and had Thomas at his mercy.
Picard suffered a charley horse with 3:01 left in the sec- ond period and didn't return to the game. He's not expected to play tonight in Cleveland and his condition is listed day-to-day.
Fountain lost his shutout when the Vipers' Corey Spring scored a power-play goal early in the third period. The Griffins tightened up defensively in front of Fountain the rest of the game and Patterson put the final touch on the win.
"Mike was solid tonight," Charron said. "He gave the kind of performance you expect from a goalie at this level."
The Griffins' win spoiled Paulin Bordeleau's debut as Vipers coach.
"We made a couple of mistakes and they scored some pretty goals," Bordeleau said. "Once they got the three-goal lead we knew it would be tough to come back."
The Vipers were playing their first game as an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning.