Griffins Complete Comeback in Overtime

February 16, 2019 - American Hockey League (AHL)
San Antonio Rampage News Release

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Filip Zadina's overtime goal capped the comeback on Saturday night at Van Andel Arena, as the Grand Rapids Griffins (30-16-7) overcame a late two-goal deficit to claim a 3-2 victory over the San Antonio Rampage (24-22-5).?

With the Rampage leading 2-0, Grand Rapids scored three goals in the final 1:58 of game play to hand the Rampage their third overtime defeat of the in the last five games.

Nolan Stevens and Mark Cooper scored for San Antonio, with Cooper tallying his first AHL goal.

With 1:50 left in regulation and Griffins goaltender Patrik Rybar heading to the bench for an extra skater, Carter Camper got the Griffins on the board. His shot from the slot was kicked away by Rampage goaltender Evan Fitzpatrick but the rebound went off the leg of a Rampage defender and into the net for Camper's 12th goal of the season to make it 2-1.

With 24 seconds left and the Griffins net again empty, Martin Frk fired a slap shot from the blue line off the post and in for his first of the year in his second game with Grand Rapids, tying the score 2-2. Fitzpatrick, making his second AHL start, was injured on the play and left the game with Jared Coreau entering in relief.

Off the opening face-off of overtime, Conner Bleackley was taken down and Zadina stepped ahead with the puck on a 2-on-1 to fire a wrister from the right wing past Coreau's blocker eight seconds into overtime for his 15th goal of the season. It was the first overtime-winner of Zadina's professional career.

Fitzpatrick made 18 saves on 20 shots. Coreau surrendered the Zadina goal on the only shot he faced and was saddled with the loss.

Stevens got the Rampage on the board with his second goal in as many games and his sixth of the season at 15:39 of the first period. Jakub Jerabek fired a low shot from the left point and Stevens buried the rebound to make it 1-0, San Antonio's sixth power play goal in the last eight games. Jordan Schmaltz picked up an assist, his third in four contests.

The Rampage took a 2-0 lead at 7:52 of the third period. Niko Mikkola powered his way down the left-wing boards and behind the Griffins net before wrapping the puck into the crease. Rybar made the initial save, but Cooper whacked in the rebound.

With the loss, the Rampage are 1-1-3 during the first five games of their ten-game road trip. They are 2-5 this season during the 3-on-3 overtime, and 0-4 on the road.

With a point in the standings the Rampage have 53 points, tied with the Manitoba Moose but still listed eighth in the Central Division. San Antonio is three points out of the division's final playoff spot.

The Rampage play their third game in three nights on Sunday when they visit the Rockford IceHogs at BMO Harris Bank Center. Puck-drop is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT, with the game available on the Ticket 760AM and on AHLTV.

RAMPAGE STATS: Goals: Stevens (6); Cooper (1)

Evan Fitzpatrick: 18 saves on 20 shots; Jared Coreau: 0 saves on 1 shot Power Play: 1-for-5 Penalty Kill: 6-for-6

THREE STARS: 1) Filip Zadina - GR 2) Martin Frk - GR 3) Patrik Rybar - GR

San Antonio Rampage goaltender Evan Fitzpatrick denies Grand Rapids Griffins forward Axel Holmstrom (Grand Rapids Griffins)

American Hockey League Stories from February 16, 2019

• Eagles Fall to Heat 5-2 in Fight-Filled Contest - Colorado Eagles
• Dube, McMurtry Lead Stockton in 5-2 Thriller - Stockton Heat
• Iowa Stumbles in 5-4 Loss in the Shootout to Rockford - Iowa Wild
• Reinforced Roadrunners Rebound, Secure a 4-1 Win over Texas - Tucson Roadrunners
• Griffins Stun Rampage with Three Late Goals in Overtime Win - Grand Rapids Griffins
• Stars Fall 4-1 to Roadrunners - Texas Stars
• Griffins Complete Comeback in Overtime - San Antonio Rampage
• Rocket Sweep Back-To-Back against Devils with 5-2 Victory - Laval Rocket
• Crunch Edged by Amerks, 3-2, in Six-Round Shootout - Syracuse Crunch
• P-Bruins Fall 3-2 to Checkers - Providence Bruins
• Amerks End Skid, Reclaim North Division Lead with 3-2 Shootout Win over Crunch - Rochester Americans
• Sammy Blais Recalled to Blues - San Antonio Rampage
• Penguins Tie Game Late, But Lose in Overtime to Comets - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
• Koivula extends goal-scoring streak to four straight games with the overtime winner - Bridgeport Islanders
• Phantoms Comeback Late But Hershey Wins in Shootout - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
• Checkers Defeat Providence 3-2 - Charlotte Checkers
• Sens Beat Monsters Behind Batherson Pair - Belleville Senators
• Bears Top Phantoms in Shootout, 3-2 - Hershey Bears
• Late Bridgeport Goal Sinks Pack in OT - Hartford Wolf Pack
• Thunderbirds Can't Get Past Marlies in Front of Sellout Crowd - Springfield Thunderbirds
• Devils Swept by Rocket, 5-2 - Binghamton Devils
• Monsters Upended by Senators, 4-2 - Cleveland Monsters
• Darcy's Overtime Winner Lifts Comets Over Penguins - Utica Comets
• Gulls Spread Scoring around in 8-3 Romp - San Diego Gulls
• Barracuda Give up Eight, Fall 8-3 - San Jose Barracuda
• Marlies Close out Road Swing in Springfield - Toronto Marlies
• Anaheim Ducks Assign Roy to Gulls - San Diego Gulls
• Moose Recall Justin Woods - Manitoba Moose
• Game #47 Preview: Tucson at Texas - Tucson Roadrunners
• Jets Recall Tucker Poolman from the Manitoba Moose - Manitoba Moose
• Condors Go for 15 Straight Wins Tonight on Blackout Cancer - Bakersfield Condors
• Kings Recall Defenseman Matt Roy from Ontario - Ontario Reign
• Heat, Eagles Begin Weekend Set Saturday - Stockton Heat
• Detroit Recalls Hronek - Grand Rapids Griffins
• Game Day Build-Up: Senators vs. Monsters, February 16 - Belleville Senators
• Islanders Loan Ladd, Hickey on Conditioning - Bridgeport Islanders
• Game Preview: Phantoms at Bears, 7 p.m. - Hershey Bears
• Blue Jackets Reassign Goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks to ECHL's Kalamazoo Wings - Cleveland Monsters
• Reign Comeback Nearly Ends Bakersfield Streak - Ontario Reign
• Condors Survive for 14th Straight Win, 7-6 - Bakersfield Condors
• Moose Top Wolves, 3-2 - Manitoba Moose

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent San Antonio Rampage Stories

• Jake Walman Named Rampage 2019-20 IOA/American Specialty Man of the Year
• Admirals Top Rampage with Third Period Outburst
• Ingram Leads Admirals to Shutout Win over Rampage
• Stars Defeat Chimuelos on Late Robertson Goal
• Comeback Effort Falls Short against Grand Rapids