Second-Period Rampage Tramples Griffins
February 24, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
San Antonio Rampage News Release
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The San Antonio Rampage rode a three-goal second period to a 3-2 win over the Grand Rapids Griffins on Wednesday at Van Andel Arena, snapping a four-game slide in the finale of their epic 14-game road trip.
Jan Mursak and Tomas Tatar scored for the Griffins (25-31-2-1), who embark on a four-game road swing looking to close a nine-point gap that separates them from the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division. The journey begins Friday with a 7:05 p.m. contest against the Rochester Americans.
At the 5:58 mark of the opening period, Mursak became the 39th different player in Griffins history to score 20 goals in a season, banging a rebound past Josh Tordjman from the left side during a power play.
The Griffins took that lead into intermission before their second-period struggles resurfaced, as the Rampage scored three unanswered goals to build a 3-1 advantage after 40 minutes. Ryan Weston solved Daniel Larsson with a shot from the right boards at 3:03, Kyle Turris slapped home a backhand from his knees at 10:56, and Stefan Meyer skated around the defense and deked Larsson on the door step with 57 seconds left in the frame.
Grand Rapids' deficit remained at two until midway through the third, when a tremendous individual effort by Tatar sliced it in half. Taking a pass from Jamie Tardif in his own zone, the 19-year-old sped up ice and fought through three Rampage defenders to go in alone on Tordjman, beating him with a backhand at the 10:52 mark.
Larsson went to the bench in favor of an extra attacker with just over a minute remaining, but Jakub Kindl had no choice but to take a tripping penalty with 46 seconds left when a Rampage player had the puck and no defender between himself and the empty net, taking away the Griffins' advantage over the duration.
Tordjman made 22 saves for the win while Larsson stopped 24 in defeat.
Three Stars: 1. SA Sullivan (two assists); 2. GR Mursak (power play goal); 3. SA Meyer (goal, assist)
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