CINCINNATI, Ohio In a crucial game for both teams, the Grand Rapids Griffins skated off with a 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks on Sunday evening at Cincinnati Gardens. The Griffins have won three games in a row for the first time since they won four in a row from Nov. 27-Dec. 4. The loss is just the second regulation setback for the Mighty Ducks in their last 18 home games (15-2-0-1).

For the third consecutive game the Griffins (28-25-1-1) opened the games scoring as Peter Vandermeer poked the rebound of Darryl Bootlands shot into the Cincinnati cage 40 seconds into the contest.

Joey MacDonald, starting his third consecutive game in as many nights, preserved the one-goal margin when he stopped Joel Perraults one-timer midway through the opening period. MacDonald dove from the left to the right post to hold the Ducks off the board.

The Mighty Ducks (31-25-1-3) would strike three seconds after a Cincinnati penalty expired when Cory Pecker knotted the score at 1-1 with a breakaway goal at 10:36 of the middle frame.

Shortly after serving a minor penalty for holding, Derek Meech busted out of the penalty box and took a pass from Kip Miller. He broke into the Cincinnati zone with Aaron Rome on his back. With a delayed penalty on Rome for taking Meech down, the rookie defenseman lifted a backhand shot inside the left post to regain a one-goal lead for Grand Rapids at 13:26.

Three minutes later the Mighty Ducks battled back to even the score at 2-2 with a power play goal. Dustin Penner walked in from the point and snapped a shot from 30 feet over MacDonalds glove at 16:37. Former Ferris State standout Chris Kunitz assisted on the goal.

The Griffins earned a 3-2 cushion at 7:34 of the third period. Miller found Matt Ellis with a pass on the wing. Ellis stepped past a defenseman and angled toward the goal. He bulled his way to the Cincinnati crease and muscled a shot past Ilya Bryzgalov for his 11th marker of the campaign.

With their netminder on the bench for an extra attacker, the Ducks furiously peppered the Griffins cage. Kunitz ran over MacDonald without consequence, but thanks in part to Bryan Helmer, the Griffins kept the puck out of the net.

MacDonald finished the night with 28 saves to record his third straight win. Bryzgalov turned aside 20 in a losing effort.

The Griffins return to Van Andel Arena to host the St. Johns Maple Leafs on Wednesday at 7 p.m.