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Late Rally Lifts Griffins Over Rampage 3-2
Frk and Zadina showing chemistry...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
February 16th, 2019
Fate was not kind to the visiting San Antonio Rampage as the griffins rallied from a two goal deficit to score three in the final two minutes including the winner in overtime. In a reversal of Friday's game, the Rampage carried play most of the night, but the Griffins scored two goals late and took advantage of an injury to starter Fitzpatrick to, scoring the winner on the first shot faced by former Griffin Jared Coreau. Martin Frk (10) and Filip Zadina (15) both added a goal and assist to the cause, while Carter Camper (12) also scored in the victory. Netminder Patrik Rybar was stellar between the pipes, picking up his 12 win of the season, and now sits tied for second among AHL goalies with a 2.31 GAA.
Givani Smith had a sneaky shot on goal, using the defender as a screen and pumping a hot through his legs on Fitzpatrick. Grand Rapids does not look like the same team as last night, and an Antonio has carried play most of the period. Late in the period the Rampage finally solved Rybar. Hicketts' man got behind him and slid the rebound in low glove side for a powerplay goal and a 1-0 lead for San Antonio. Brian Lashoff got drilled with an elbow into the boards setting up a late Griffins powerplay. Shots on goal: GR 6 - San 13.
Frk and Zadina off to the races on a 2-on-1 but entered the zone just offsides. Chris Terry with room in the slot, but fanned on the shot. Saarijarvi tried to force a pass at the point that was picked off at the line. Dominic Turgeon in the slot ripped the rebound of Colin Campbell's shot off the post. Grand Rapids ended up with their 4th straight powerplay with Jerabek off for crosschecking late in the second. Griffins looked tired and uninspired most of game so far and are getting pushed around by the Rampage Shots on goal: GR 7 - San 8.
Carter Camper picked up a loose puck at the line for a chance and then Elson had a nice try with the rebound.Great save by Rybar on a short range shot. Grand Rapids looks disjointed with very little going on offensively and no time of possession. Hicketts over-skated his man to try and take away the wraparound, leaving Cooper alone to bang it home from the edge of the paint. Great work by camper to steal the puck at the line and then get in the zone onside. Unfortunately an errant pass gave it away, and then when Terry reached for it he tripped a Rampage player and ended up in the box. Sulak with a late hit on LaLeggia that drew a crowd and got heated quickly. Sulak ended up with the only penalty in the exchange. McIlrath went after Nolan and was incensed with something that happened behind the play. Four-on-four play and Zadina made a sick move to cut through the defense for a terrific chance. Tempers really flaring as scrums are breaking out after every whistle. Cholowski up the gut, took a pass from Camper for a big shot that missed the net. Hicketts got drilled and retaliated with a big slash, going to the box alone. Zadina and Megan collided with each other on the penalty kill allowing San Antonio a scoring chance. With time running low, Camper fired a weak shot on net with Terry in front screening that went in off the defenseman to break the goose egg and cut the lead to one. Rybar summoned to the bench for an extra skater. Zadina over the line and rifled a shot that Fitzpatrick just got a glove on. Frk working at the line trying to open up a lane and then launched a rocket that beat Fitzpatrick and left the goalie down in a heap on the ice to knot the score at two each.. The training staff worked on him for awhile, but Fitzpatrick was unable to continue, yielding to Jared Coreau with just 23.2 seconds remaining. Shots on goal: GR 7 - San 14.
Right off the opening faceoff, Zadina walked in and lasered a shot in under Coreau for a dramatic come from behind victory over the visiting San Antonio Rampage, 3-2. Shots on goal: GR 1 - San 0. For the game: GR 21 - San 35.
Lines:
#65 Shine/#54 Smith - #23 Turgeon - #45 Campbell
#15 Elson - #19 Camper - #25 Terry
#11 Zadina - #22 Megan - #91 Martin Frk
#39 Hulak - #10 Holmstrom - #65 Shine
Pairings:
#2 Hicketts - #44 Cholowski
#4 Sulak - #52 McIlrath
#18 Lashoff - #9 Saarijarvi
Starter: #42 Rybar
Backup: #29 Sateri
Scratches:
#12 Pope
#27 Chelios
#55 Ford
#73 Puempel
PP:
#15 Elson - #10 Holmstrom - #19 Camper
#2 Hicketts - #9 Saarijarvi
#91 Frk - #22 Megan - #11 Zadina
#44 Cholowski - #25 Terry
PK:
#23 Turgeon/#65 Shine - #45 Campbell/
#2 Hicketts - #52 McIlrath
#15 Elson - #39 Hulak
#44 Cholowski - #2 Hicketts
Observations:
This game was a snoozer for the first 58 minutes, and then the Griffins turned on the switch enough to score three goals in a two minute span for the win. San Antonio caught a bad break in the last minute when Fitzpatrick got hurt on the Frk goal. Coreau came in cold and gave up the game winner on the first shot he saw.
Despite the teams slow start, Frk and Zadina continued to shine together. Zadina looks to have found a kindred spirit in Frk and the two complement each other well. The two Czechs have 4 points each over the two games they have played together. Frk in particular has returned to GR a much more well rounded player than when he left. His play away from the puck has improved tremendously, and his passing has also improved an order of magnitude.
Dennis Cholowski had a bit of a drop-off from last night, and looked much more tentative. he did not get involved in the offensive zone nearly as much, and really looked to be getting his bearings in the AHL.
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