GRIFFINS SOAR IN SHOOTOUT

PEORIA, Ill. – Stefan Liv backstopped all but one shooter while both Evan McGrath and Kip Miller scored in a shootout propelling the Grand Rapids Griffins to their second-straight victory in such fashion, beating the Peoria Rivermen 4-3 Friday night at the Carver Arena.

The Griffins return home tomorrow night to kick off a weekend set against the Hamilton Bulldogs at Van Andel Arena at 7 p.m.

Following a scoreless opening period Matt Ellis notched the first goal of the contest at 1:04 of the second during a power play when he ripped a shot from the hashes after taking a pass from Matt Hussey on the left boards. The goal marks two AHL-career highs for Ellis with his 21st of the season while extending his point streak to six games and tying his all-time streak set back in 2002-03 in Toledo.

The Griffins took a 2-0 lead midway through as Derek Meech blew a 55-footer inside the left goal post and past Jason Bacashihua on a feed from Dan Smith at 10:12. Meech extended his career-high point streak to seven games and tallied his second in as many nights with the lamp lighter.

Peoria answered at 18:23 on a wrap-around shot from Ryan Ramsey that he tucked under the crossbar over Liv’s shoulder, who had made numerous acrobatic saves and a total of 15 prior to the goal.

Grand Rapids earned another two-goal lead just 10 seconds into the third period when they caught the Rivermen flat footed. A Griffins’ 2-on-1 resulted from the face off with Jamie Tardif skating in alongside Eric Himelfarb, who fed the puck to Tardif before receiving it back and pounding a shot into an open net.

But the Rivermen’s Ramsey netted two more goals completing a hat trick and ultimately sending the contest into a shootout as neither team could score during overtime.

Ramsey’s first came at 10:28 when he worked his way through the defense and scored from the goal mouth. His second was a wrist shot from the right side that slid past Liv at 16:06.

Both McGrath and Miller scored during the shootout with Liv turning aside all but Mike Glumac and finished the night 26 saves.