Griffins Rally for Shootout Win Over Rampage
Published on March 20, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Source: Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
SAN ANTONIO - The Grand Rapids Griffins trailed 4-1 entering the third period but fought back with three goals in a span of 2:07 en route to capturing a 5-4 shootout victory over the San Antonio Rampage on Tuesday night at the AT&T Center.
The Rampage opened the scoring when they converted on their first power play opportunity at 6:32. Bracken Kearns fired a shot on Tom McCollum from in close that was blocked, but Kearns pounced on his own rebound to knock in his 16th goal of the season.
A nifty display of stick work by Bill Thomas doubled the Rampage lead at 12:57 of the opening frame. Thomas danced around two Griffins defensemen at the blueline, walked in alone on McCollum and flicked a shot into the top corner of the net to put San Antonio put 2-0.
San Antonio added to its lead 2:31 into the middle period, when Michal Repik one-timed a Jon Matsumoto pass into the Griffins net. Grand Rapids responded shortly after that, as Chris Minard made the score 3-1 when he tapped a feed from Jamie Johnson past Rampage goalie Jacob Markstrom at 4:22.
Greg Rallo gave San Antonio a chance to go up three goals when he was awarded a penalty shot at 7:04. McCollum stood tall on the attempt, but the Rampage made it 4-1 at 11:03 when Kearns deposited his second goal of the night by sweeping home a loose puck in front of the net.
A furious rally early in the third period gave the Griffins life again, as the team struck three times in a span of 2:07. Tomas Tatar brought Grand Rapids within two at 4:44 when he threaded a shot past Markstrom through traffic. A one-timer from the high slot by Minard at 5:59 cut the Rampage lead to 4-3.
The Griffins kept pushing towards the San Antonio goal, and Tatar knocked home his second of the night from the side of the net to knot the game at four at 6:51.
Minard ripped a slap shot past Markstrom in the third round round, but it was Louis-Marc Aubry who clinched the victory when he converted in the seventh round of the shootout. McCollum stopped six of seven shooters, adding to the 41 saves he made during the game. Markstrom stopped 30 in San Antonio's loss.
The Griffins (29-24-6-4) will square off with the Rampage (33-26-3-2) again in San Antonio on Thursday night at 8 p.m. EDT.
Three Stars: 1. GR Aubry (shootout-winning goal) 2. GR Tatar (two goals); 3. SA Thomas (two goals, assist) Griffins Game Rewind
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