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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Griffins Prevail 3-2 in Overtime

November 22, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids, Mich. - Dave Van Drunen's goal with 26 seconds remaining in overtime lifted the Grand Rapids Griffins to a 3-2 victory over the San Antonio Rampage on Friday night at Van Andel Arena.

After Marc Lamothe had denied six Rampage attempts during overtime, the Griffins used their only shot of the extra session to extend their team-record unbeaten streak to 12 games (9-0-3-0). Stacy Roest led the Griffins on a 2-on-1 into San Antonio's zone and fed a pass across the slot to Van Drunen, who scored into a wide-open net.

Grand Rapids (10-3-4-0) survived a stern test from the expansion Rampage (3-7-5-1) thanks largely to the efforts of two players. Lamothe made 32 saves to extend his personal unbeaten streak to 11 games (7-0-4), a new franchise record for an individual netminder, while rookie forward Tomas Kopecky scored both of the Griffins goals during regulation.

The first-place Griffins, who have not tasted defeat since Oct. 24, maintain a seven-point cushion in the Central Division over Cincinnati. They'll host the Cleveland Barons on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

The Rampage's fifth shorthanded goal of the season gave the visitors an early advantage at 5:47 of the opening period. Jeff Toms got in front of the Griffins' defense, waited patiently for Lamothe to make his move, then lifted the puck under the crossbar from in close.

Grand Rapids knotted the score less than six minutes later, at 11:25, when Kopecky popped home a rebound of Derek King's wristshot that Rampage goalie Wade Flaherty lost track of in the crease.

Early in the second period, Kopecky set a personal best for his young career by scoring his second goal of the night in similar fashion. Ed Campbell took a blast from the point that Flaherty turned aside, but Kopecky collected the puck in the slot with a defender draped over him and slid it just inside the left post at 2:21.

Toms' second goal of the game, on a blast from the top of the left circle during a power play, tied the game at 8:45 of the third period. Minutes before the Rampage tied the score, King had to be helped from the ice after sustaining what is described as a severe hamstring strain after a knee-to-knee hit with a San Antonio player. He will be evaluated further on Saturday.

Flaherty, who made 21 stops, was a key factor in the Rampage holding the Griffins scoreless in 10 power play chances. San Antonio, meanwhile, converted only one of nine opportunities.

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