Dec. 1, 2018

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Backed by two-goal performances from Chris Terry and Colin Campbell, the Grand Rapids Griffins won their first matchup over the Texas Stars this season on Saturday, 6-3, at Van Andel Arena.

Campbell scored his first and second goals of the season consecutively in the opening frame, while Terry’s second goal marked his 500th career point as a pro player.

With the win over the Stars (9-9-1-1), Grand Rapids extends both its win streak and point streak to five and seven, respectively. In addition to notching points in 13 of the last 15 games, the Griffins now own a record of 8-2-0-2 while playing at Van Andel Arena and remain at third in the Central Division with a 13-7-0-2 record.

The Griffins return to action on Wednesday, when they host the San Antonio Rampage at 7 p.m before traveling to the Rockford IceHogs and Iowa Wild next weekend.

Colin Campbell scored his first goal of the season, unassisted, just 2:10 into the first frame. After skating through a pass between the Stars' Denis Gurianov and Robbie Payne, Campbell stole the puck and sent it into the net to put the Griffins up, 1-0.

Seven minutes and 52 seconds later, he notched his second goal when Texas defenseman Ben Gleason lost the puck near the slot. Still in position, Campbell collected the puck and chucked it over Stars’ goaltender Landon Bow's left shoulder for a 2-0 lead.

With 8:40 left in the frame, Texas’ Joel L’Esperance gained control of a loose puck in the Griffins’ zone and skated through defensive efforts from Joe Hicketts and Vili Saarijarvi to cut Grand Rapids’ lead in half.

The Stars scored again less than three minutes later to tie the game at 2-2. Gleason ripped off a shot from the blue line, and Erik Condra tapped it past goaltender Harri Sateri for the Stars’ second goal.

Just as it looked like both teams would enter the second frame stuck in a stalemate, Terry scored his 13th goal of the season to give Grand Rapids the advantage. With 48 seconds left, Carter Camper sent a pass from behind Bow's net to Terry, who finished it from the slot.

Texas retaliated early in the second frame with a goal just 1:39 into the period, when Adam Mascherin scored from the left circle after being sent the puck from Denis Gurianov to tie the game at 3-3.

The Griffins reclaimed the lead at 6:43 when Filip Zadina dropped off a pass to Terry near the top of the left circle, who finished it off to give Grand Rapids a 4-3 lead.

Camper extended the Griffins’ lead at 10:06 with a goal from the slot after receiving a pass from Terry behind Bow's net. Shine finalized the 6-3 score with an empty-net goal at 17:14.

Sateri stopped 28 shots on the night for his fourth-straight win, while Bow recorded 24 saves.

Notes: The Griffins finished 2-for-2 on the penalty kill and 0-for-2 on the power play...Dylan McIlrath returned to the lineup after missing nine games due to injury... Filip Hronek's assist on Terry's first goal extended his point streak to six games, a new career high...The five goals allowed by Bow are the most he has given up to the Griffins in a game through seven career appearances.

Three Stars: 1. GR Terry (two goals, assist); 2. GR Campbell (two goals); 3. TEX L'Esperance (goal, assist)

Photo by Sam Iannamico/Griffins