Griffins Win Second Consecutive Shootout, 2-1

Published on March 20, 2019 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release

Grand Rapids Griffins left wing Chris Terry (right) eyes a shot against the San Antonio Rampage
(Grand Rapids Griffins, Credit: Darren Abate/San Antonio Rampage)

The shootout marked Grand Rapids' 21st game tied after regulation this season, breaking the previous single-season franchise record of 20 set by the 2008-09 and 2006-07 teams. Coming off a 3-2 shootout win against the Admirals on Saturday, the Griffins (35-18-6-4) now have back-to-back shootout wins to begin their six-game road trip that extends to next Friday.

The victory over San Antonio (27-31-6-1) puts Grand Rapids in sole possession of second place in Central Division standings with 80 points, one behind the top-ranked Chicago Wolves. The Griffins will continue their Texas road trip on Wednesday, when they travel to Austin to face the Texas Stars at 8 p.m. EDT.

Matt Puempel provided the theatrics early when he ended a team scoring shortage in the Rampage's venue dating back to April 12, 2018, when the last Grand Rapids goal was scored 127:57 earlier. One minute into a high-sticking penalty to San Antonio's Nolan Stevens, Carter Camper rang a shot off Rampage goaltender Jared Coreau, popping the puck out to Puempel near the left-wing circle.

Passing the puck through Joe Hicketts near the blue line, Puempel eventually regained control of the puck back at the left-wing circle off a feed from Camper. With a quick shot, he flung the puck past Coreau for a power play goal at 3:33.

Each team was awarded two chances on the power play in the second period, though neither managed to capitalize. Puempel's goal stood as the lone tally for Grand Rapids in regulation, putting the power play at a 1-for-4 finish on the night. The penalty kill went a perfect 3-for-3 through regulation, keeping San Antonio off the board through two periods.

An early scoring opportunity for the Rampage in the third frame ruined the Griffins' chances of a shutout, though, as a shot from San Antonio's Jordan Schmaltz near the blue line left the puck drifting near Harri Sateri's net. Positioned on the doorstep in Grand Rapids' zone, Austin Poganski threaded the puck between Sateri's pads at 1:19 to even the score at 1-1.

The Rampage piled on shots in the third period in an attempt to break the tie, tallying nine of their 10 shots unanswered within the first eight minutes of the frame. The efforts proved ineffectual, though, as neither team would break the tie, sending the Griffins to an extra frame for the second consecutive night.

A scoreless overtime period left the decision to a shootout, where Sateri mimicked his efforts from last Saturday and staved off all of San Antonio's chances for a win. Coreau made stops on Puempel and Dominic Turgeon, but Terry backhanded the puck into his net in the third round to award the Griffins their second consecutive shootout win and push their road record above .500 for the first time this season.

Notes: Sateri finished the night with 23 saves...Coreau suited up for Grand Rapids from 2013-18 and ranks among the franchise's all-time goalie leaders with 148 GP (4th), 8614:11 minutes (4th), a 2.44 GAA (T8th), 85 wins (4th), 13 shutouts (3rd), 3930 saves (4th), a 0.918 save percentage (T7th) and seven shootout wins (T5th)...In three career appearances against the Griffins this season, Coreau is 1-1-1 with a 2.49 GAA, a 0.934 save percentage and one shutout.

Three Stars: 1. GR Terry (deciding goal); 2. GR Puempel (goal); 3. GR Sateri (SOW, 23 saves)

Grand Rapids Griffins left wing Chris Terry (right) eyes a shot against the San Antonio Rampage (Darren Abate/San Antonio Rampage)

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