GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 3 at Houston Aeros 2

March 29, 2013

HOUSTON – Led by a pair of goals and an assist by captain Jeff Hoggan, the Grand Rapids Griffins defeated the Houston Aeros 3-2 on Friday at the Toyota Center.

Hoggan put the Griffins (38-22-3-3) on the scoreboard just 29 seconds into the first period. Jan Mursak skated behind Houston’s goal and made a great pass to Hoggan, who was moving up the near side. The left wing picked up the pass 15 feet from the goal and snapped it home past goaltender Cody Reichard.

The Aeros (33-23-5-5) scored twice within 19 seconds to take a two-goal lead early in the opening period. Justin Fontaine found Chad Rau and the Eden Prairie, Minn., native snuck his shot past Tom McCollum for a power play goal at 5:29.

Nineteen seconds later, Jason Zucker found Nick Petersen in the slot, and the right wing blew his shot past McCollum to give the Aeros a 2-1 lead.

Hoggan scored his second goal of the game at 7:49 of the first period to tie the game at two. Reichard blocked the Griffins’ first shot but couldn’t control the puck in front of the goal, and Hoggan quickly scooped up the puck and slipped it through the goaltender’s pads.

After a scoreless second period, Chad Billins broke the 2-2 tie at 17:59 of the final period. Reichard deflected the first shot by Grand Rapids and as the puck trickled past him, Billins swooped in and tapped it home. The goal gave the Griffins a 3-2 victory that they wouldn’t lose.

Reichard stopped 33 of 36 shots while McCollum earned the victory behind 27 saves.

The Griffins will stay in Texas as they wrap up their three-in-three against the Texas Stars tomorrow at 8 p.m. EDT.

Three Stars: 1. GR Hoggan (two goals, assist); 2. GR Billins (game-winning goal); 3. HOU Petersen (goal)