Dec. 5, 2010 – San Antonio Rampage 3 at GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 2 OT

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Mathieu Beaudoin’s power play goal 2:35 into overtime spoiled a tremendous performance by Thomas McCollum and lifted the San Antonio Rampage to a 3-2 victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins on Sunday at Van Andel Arena.

McCollum made 39 saves on the evening, one shy of his career high, but he had no chance on the game-winner. He made an initial save at the left post, but Andrew Ebbett quickly flipped the rebound across to Beaudoin, who scored the backdoor goal into a wide-open net.

The Griffins (10-10-1-4) will continue their three-game homestand against the Milwaukee Admirals on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

For the second straight night Derek Meech got the scoring underway in the first period, connecting on a blast from the right point during a power play at 11:17. But the Rampage (18-6-1-0) responded during their own man-advantage less than four minutes later, when Ebbett, the former Michigan Wolverine, chased down a stray puck in the left circle and hammered a slap shot past McCollum at 14:45.

The Griffins scored their second shorthanded goals in as many games 6:20 into the second period, as Travis Ehrhardt skated in from the point to one-time a rocket that glanced off Matt Climie’s glove and into the net. Again San Antonio answered, with Petr Prucha sweeping a backhand inside the right post from the doorstep at 12:17, making it a 2-2 game.

A scoreless third period produced overtime, but not before a goaltender interference penalty on Brett MacLean with under four minutes remaining in regulation resulted in several scoring chances for the Griffins’ power play. That failure to score proved fatal after Logan Pyett was whistled off on a tripping penalty 2:15 into the extra frame, a call that had the Grand Rapids bench up in arms. Beaudoin tallied the game-winner 30 seconds later.

Climie improved to 11-4 on the season by turning aside 29 shots.

Notes: After the game, the Detroit Red Wings reassigned right wing Willie Coetzee and defenseman Brian Lashoff to the Griffins from the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye…Of the 14 goals scored during the two-game set between the Griffins and Rampage, only three were of the 5-on-5 variety. Seven were on the power play, three were shorthanded, and one was during a 4-on-4.

Three Stars: 1. SA Beaudoin (game-winning goal, assist); 2. GR McCollum (L, 39 saves); 3. SA Climie (W, 29 saves)