SHUTDOWN IN SAN ANTONIO

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 0 at San Antonio Rampage 2

April 10, 2015

SAN ANTONIO — Western Conference supremacy was on the line Friday at AT&T Center between Grand Rapids and San Antonio where the host Rampage dominated offensively from the start and didn’t let up as they posted a 2-0 win over the Griffins.

San Antonio (45-21-5-1) is now atop of the Western Conference with 96 points. Utica, who fell to Adirondack 3-2 Friday, sit No. 2 in the West with 94 points. Grand Rapids (43-20-6-2) has 93 points this campaign and couldn’t extend its one-point Midwest Division lead over Rockford after being shutout for the fourth time this season.

The Rampage controlled play from the start as they outshot the Griffins 13-5 in the opening frame. The Griffins got their best scoring chance with 2:35 remaining when Kevin Porter took a long pass at the blue line and streaked toward goaltender Sam Brittain with Shane O’Brien tailing with the result being a pad save by Brittain.

San Antonio kept applying pressure in the second period, including a scoring opportunity when Garrett Wilson appeared to score on the backhand but Griffins goaltender Tom McCollum reached behind him and swatted the puck away with his glove prior to it entering the net.

The Rampage got the first goal of the night at 10:11 when Quinton Howden took advantage of a loose puck and scored his third goal of the season. Connor Brickley skated down the right wing and shot a long wrister on McCollum. McCollum couldn’t control the puck and Howden was there to convert just as the puck squeezed past McCollum’s right arm.

The third period became more physical and defensive, as the Griffins held the Rampage to six shots in the third compared to allowing 16 in the second period.

One of the six shots San Antonio took found the back of the net at 9:55 when Greg Zanon put a shot on net through traffic and was tipped by Wilson as he screened McCollum for his 22nd goal of the season.

McCollum was pulled in favor of an extra attacker with 2:45 remaining just as Michael Matheson took a penalty for delay of game. The Griffins couldn’t score on the six-on-four power play but they prevented the Rampage from scoring on the empty net.

Brittain made 22 saves and took first star honors. McCollum made 33 saves in the loss. The Griffins went 0-for-3 on the power play while the Rampage didn’t score on two power play opportunities.

Grand Rapids will attempt to pull even with San Antonio in the Western Conference standings as they have a rematch at 8 p.m. EDT in San Antonio.

Three Stars: 1. SA Brittain (W, SO, 22 saves); 2. SA Howden (goal); 3. Matheson (goal)

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 0 at San Antonio Rampage 2

April 10, 2015

SAN ANTONIO — Western Conference supremacy was on the line Friday at AT&T Center between Grand Rapids and San Antonio where the host Rampage dominated offensively from the start and didn’t let up as they posted a 2-0 win over the Griffins.

San Antonio (45-21-5-1) is now atop of the Western Conference with 96 points. Utica, who fell to Adirondack 3-2 Friday, sit No. 2 in the West with 94 points. Grand Rapids (43-20-6-2) has 93 points this campaign and couldn’t extend its one-point Midwest Division lead over Rockford after being shutout for the fourth time this season.

The Rampage controlled play from the start as they outshot the Griffins 13-5 in the opening frame. The Griffins got their best scoring chance with 2:35 remaining when Kevin Porter took a long pass at the blue line and streaked toward goaltender Sam Brittain with Shane O’Brien tailing with the result being a pad save by Brittain.

San Antonio kept applying pressure in the second period, including a scoring opportunity when Garrett Wilson appeared to score on the backhand but Griffins goaltender Tom McCollum reached behind him and swatted the puck away with his glove prior to it entering the net.

The Rampage got the first goal of the night at 10:11 when Quinton Howden took advantage of a loose puck and scored his third goal of the season. Connor Brickley skated down the right wing and shot a long wrister on McCollum. McCollum couldn’t control the puck and Howden was there to convert just as the puck squeezed past McCollum’s right arm.

The third period became more physical and defensive, as the Griffins held the Rampage to six shots in the third compared to allowing 16 in the second period.

One of the six shots San Antonio took found the back of the net at 9:55 when Greg Zanon put a shot on net through traffic and was tipped by Wilson as he screened McCollum for his 22nd goal of the season.

McCollum was pulled in favor of an extra attacker with 2:45 remaining just as Michael Matheson took a penalty for delay of game. The Griffins couldn’t score on the six-on-four power play but they prevented the Rampage from scoring on the empty net.

Brittain made 22 saves and took first star honors. McCollum made 33 saves in the loss. The Griffins went 0-for-3 on the power play while the Rampage didn’t score on two power play opportunities.

Grand Rapids will attempt to pull even with San Antonio in the Western Conference standings as they have a rematch at 8 p.m. EDT in San Antonio.

Three Stars: 1. SA Brittain (W, SO, 22 saves); 2. SA Howden (goal); 3. Matheson (goal)